Messages

Questions, questions ...
1. Optimum all-up weight - modern Twelves work with anything from 17 - 23 stone, though 18 - 22 would probably cover 90% of the last Championship fleet.  Most boats don't sail with even helm/crew weights.  On balance, Twelves work better with a lighter crew and heavier helm, to discourage nose-diving.
2. Post capsize, the buoyancy arrangements should float the boat full of water with a few inches of freeboard above the waterline, with both of you in it.  In N3262, you'll have a front tank, I imagine, and either 2 x stern bags or a built-in aft tank.  Check they're all working and watertight.  Once you've got yourselves sorted out, push the bailers down, open the flaps and bear away on to a reach with your weight aft.  The water should come out pretty quickly.
3. Centreboard slot gasket - you need one!  They need replacing every so often.  Use either dacron sailcloth-type material or mylar - (P&B will supply).  If you have a conventional keel on your Crusader, take off the keelband and fasten the gasket under it, under tension.  If you have no keel, then it's an adhesive job and there's lots of advice elsewhere in the discussion page about how to do it.
 
Mike D
N3533

Rock Lobster, Anne and I will be there for the Sunday open.

Mike D
N3533

At:http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6797&PN=1

Mike D
N3533

I have a broken carbon mast that would do the trick, if you want to do some recycling.  If you make me a token offer and collect it, it's yours!

Mike D
N3533

Just noticed - big congratulations to Jon and Char for wiping the floor and beating 138 other boats to win this prestigious race. More here ... http://www.hisc.co.uk/nupdate.asp
Mike D
N3533

Good to hear you're on the water.  Some thoughts on your questions:
1. Spreaders: John Thornton kindly sent me his and Meds measurements (JT/JM):
spreader length 385 / 365
aft deflection 137/147
between ends 725 / 705
John T has a superspar, Meds has an Angel (I think).
2. The centreboard does touch the thwart on mine, too.  I've padded the point with a bit of progrip.
3. It's designed to go down beyond vertical.  Put the boat on its side and position the board at 90deg.  Then mark this line on the board inside the boat and use this position for stronger winds.  In the lighter stuff, push it down further to point higher - at least that's the theory.
4. Yes, cut the corner off the rudder!  I've already done this, and so has Dave Peacock.  I didn't get to the foam core, so not a problem.  If you do, you could work in some epoxy and then file that down to get a proper seal.  The overall rudder design is clever but it needs two further mods to make it work more easily.  I think we're calling these the 'Meds hole' and the 'Peacock stopper'.  Now I've done these, it's much simpler to line up the top holes for the pin.  Tricky to explain in words - but only 10 mins work and I can show you in Weymouth.
 
Mike D
N3533
 

Rock Lobster was launched at Salcombe on 1st May 2010.  This is at the Desborough open meeting in mid-May.

Desborough offered its usual fluky river conditions and great hospitality on Saturday.  John Thornton with alternating family crews, and Mike Day & Anne Murch - both equipped with Paradigms, joined three Desborough boats.  In the first race, Richard Broughton led for a lap before John & Rebecca and Mike & Anne both came through.  The lead changed several more times before John & Rebecca slipped ahead, holding off Mike & Anne by less than a boat length at the finish.  The second race was more processional - John & Mandy were never headed and won by a good distance from Mike & Anne.  In the final race, the lead again changed several times with Richard Broughton making his Design 8 perform well in the light airs.  On the third lap, Mike & Anne got away and won from John & Rebecca.
1. John Thornton & Rebecca/Mandy Thornton
2. Mike Day & Anne Murch
3. Richard Broughton

The next meeting in the Thames Area is at Desborough, this coming Saturday.  I haven't heard from the club but the normal format is 3 races, first start at 1100.  Anne and I are planning to be there with N3533.  Desborough offers traditional river sailing in a lovely setting and an active home fleet.
 
Mike Day
N3533

I really do think that the weather gods are going to have to do better than the forecast 25mph northerlies and max 6deg to tempt me out of Batson creek on Sunday!
 
Mike D
N3533

... as will Anne and I with the as-yet unnamed 3533.  Launch party on Saturday ... !  Dave and Tricia are also going.
 
Mike D
N3533

DB boats actually tend to have more freeboard than their AC counterparts but of course there's less room inside so it doesn't feel that way.  That is more of a problem for people like me with long legs than young crews.  Best way to find out is get yourself along to a club and have a sail in both variants - you'll find people only too ready to help.
 
Mike D
N3533 (yes, I have a number, if not actually the boat yet) 

It looks fine to me.  The relative positions of the thwarts on two such different designs is immaterial.  There are two risks of moving it forward - you restrict the crew's working area and you put the crew's weight too far forward for when the wind gets up and you don't want the boat nose-diving downwind.  Most people who have had thwart-less boats end up adding them - otherwise their crews refuse to sail as it's very uncomfortable.  It's also difficult to get the toe-straps to stand up without a thwart.  And you could end up with removing a key part of the stiffness of the boat.  You only need to get forward of the thwart in very light airs, when you should be close to the shroud on the beat and the run.  For this to work, you need a long enough tiller extension and main sheet.  You just get used to slipping behind the thwart when you tack and gybe.  So leave it where it is and just practice on helm and crew moving around to suit the conditions - we all do it.

Mike D
N353*

I think the goalkeeper in the team photo might be destined for something, if only he can grow a bit.  Not sure about the clogging centre-half with the fringe though ...!

Mike D
N353*

Running in f3-4:
1. Leeward shroud off, loose foot farly tight, cunningham off, ram or lowers supporting mast,  jib halyard pulled on (if you can be bothered),
2. Centreboard up as much as you dare; ditto kicker off quite a long way.  Both of these are trade-offs between speed and stability. 
3. Don't sit too far forward - keep the fore/aft trim about level. Slight windward heel (but be careful!)
4. Keep the main out as far as it will go - then one small pump of main and jib together in the gusts (but don't overdo it). 
5. Try bearing away a bit in the puffs and up a bit in the lulls.
6. If the wind gets stronger and you're worrying about staying upright, shrouds on, plate 75% down, kicker tighter, both of you sit further back until you run out of boat, pull the main in 30cms off the shroud in the big gusts; close eyes, pray.
7. Look at brilliant coaching tips plus pics and vids in 'owners stuff' elsewhere on this site.
8. Practice for about 20 years!
 
Mike D
N353* (still not delivered)