National 12

General Boards => General National 12 chat => Topic started by: Jon_P on 14 Sep 2006, 10:33

Title: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jon_P on 14 Sep 2006, 10:33
I know some of you will have watched the boat whisperer dvds.
He talks about sailing the boat healed to windward when travelling to windward in light and medium airs..  Anyone tried it in a 12?
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: John Meadowcroft on 14 Sep 2006, 11:38
Tom Stewart sails at least upright in all conditions.  Need we say more....

they are also slightly healed to windward once they are fully hiked, and this becomes more aggressive with more wind.  Look at the fotoboat photos from Burton Week - he is the blue boat, 3501.  

Bizarrely the photo in the banner above - he is 3476, sailing off into a big lead... shows them not quite upright.  I would have expected his boat to look more like Fran Gifford's (the pale blue one coming on starboard tack towards you which looks pretty flat.

Not convinced about the lightest stuff, but if you are heeled to windward the boat is naturally going to bear away bringing more power into the rig.
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Tim L (Guest) on 14 Sep 2006, 12:10
Also noticeable on some of the videos of the gate starts from Abersoch and Weymouth that Tom & Liz are heeling significantly to windward right out of the gate and are pretty much the only boat to be doing so... Certainly if this works as steve cockerill claims then it's the probably the best way to get out of the dirty air on a start line (at least if you ascribe to the bethwaite view that climbing out is more effective than trying to foot out of a start...)

Tim
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo41 on 14 Sep 2006, 12:21
Tim, where are the videos of these gate starts?

Jim N3130 (Let me have the last word on a Final Chapter, but no sweeties from plastic fantastics)
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Tim L (Guest) on 15 Sep 2006, 12:26
On Graham's computer... but I'm sure he'd do you a cd if you asked nicely....
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo41 on 15 Sep 2006, 12:38
Tim,

I suggest that these videos be made public for training purposes - placed on the website noless ;D That way everyone can benefit... ;D ;D ;D Can't be accused of being elitist that way...

Jim N3130 (No Sweeties, and "never, never, NEVER give up" W. Churchill)

Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jon_P on 15 Sep 2006, 01:25
talking of online coaching, this site is very informative.
Would be great to have something for the 12. Any offers?!

http://www.littlejohncoaching.com/rs_two/rstwo.htm

Jon
N3211
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: THG on 15 Sep 2006, 02:00
The site seems more helpful in that you see whats going on - some of the download didn't work for me.  We have quite a few notes on what to do / not do but having an actual video / commentary is much better - maybe we could take these out onthe water on our "Apple PODs" for self improvement??  Seriously though any training stuff like this would be helpful esp. the capsize / empty your boat (AC/DB) see previous threads!

Some of the notes from BW at the mark I can't visualise if someone could make 'pictures' of this it would have helped me (as another example).

Also if we have video it shows off our nice boats too...

Kean

Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo42 on 15 Sep 2006, 05:44
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Mikey C on 16 Sep 2006, 09:47
If you want to pay for it! bandwidth for that sort of thing can cost money, unsure as to the websites current download limits...
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: jammy dodger on 16 Sep 2006, 06:47
I would like to say that I have had definite increases in speed with my baggy in very light airs by heeling to windward. This howeveroccurs only when you are actually moving to start with. it does not work unless you have forward momentum. I know it is almost outlawed to suggest anything but upright and i would like to point out that this has only been tried during club racing but all the same its worth having a go. The only problem is that by heeling the boat it bears away so more steering is required, slowing boat down. hence the need for speed going in and it really being a judgement call.

Thomas Walworth
N3180 Wom Pom
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo42 on 17 Sep 2006, 08:35
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: jammy dodger on 18 Sep 2006, 12:20
Ahh yes, of course i didnt put that i sail on a lke and therfore waves dont affect!!!! umm and steering is only slight-depending on ammount of heel. Anyone who has done any rudderless sailing will relate to the affect on windward heel!!!

Tom
WomPom N3184
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo41 on 18 Sep 2006, 01:09
Tom,
I also sail on a big lake.... Sometimes we get 70 cm waves... During Bft 6. Not much fetch and it all has to go somewhere....

But the sailing tip seems interesting.

Cheers!

Jim N3130
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Lukepiewalker on 18 Sep 2006, 07:19
Could you not just rake the rig back a bit to tune out the lee helm when doing the windward heel thing?
It is half the fun of having all these bits of string...
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jon_P on 19 Sep 2006, 09:42
You need the lee helm to be able to push the rudder away a little to create the lift on the board.
You would still get the lift from the hull by moving the mast back so might be a little quicker.
Jon
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Lukepiewalker on 19 Sep 2006, 05:22
That's where the adjustability comes in.... you can tune a bit of it out, but keep as much as you need.... ;D
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo42 on 19 Sep 2006, 07:46
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: icecreamman on 19 Sep 2006, 08:19
Yeah Jacko was always a great believer in the minimalist approach, but do not know what his feelings are on the windwards heel thang. All I ever got to see was his transom , so something worked for him
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Lukepiewalker on 19 Sep 2006, 08:26
Aye, but you work out the tuning in practice.... Same as you set your normal mast rake, just a bit less on the jib halyard and a bit more on the shrouds... or something...
Title: Re: Healing to windward upwind?
Post by: Jimbo41 on 20 Sep 2006, 08:09
Lukiepie,

Seems like you've found a Holy Grail to search for.... Seems like this isn't the final chapter... ;)

Beware the Pincher my son, the heelto bird and numinous stealyourtack....
(Sorry Lewis)
 ;D ;D ;D

Jim N3130