Questions from the week

Here's the list of questions - and answers - from the week:

1. So today in our meet, I was having some trouble with my flattening off
   the tacks in the big wind. We weren't rolling much at all, and we just
   couldn't seem to snap the tack flat.
   
   EASE!!!! That whole, "bring your hand to your ear thing" is critical
   in big breeze. As you cross the boat, you should get about a 2 foot
   ease. Also, you may be over-steering. Make sure you keep the boat on a close-hauled course (or even higher for a second in big breeze) as you come out of the tacks.


2. When I was spinning yesterday, I would come out of the tack and ease the
   main all the way as I was bearing off. When We rolled the boom would hit
   the water, and I couldn't flatten and steer up at the same time. When I
   didn't let the main out all the way, it solved both problems, but it felt
   slower. Which is better?
   
   Sounds like you're spinning too tight in both circles. Don't just blow the main,
   ease the main. Remember to sail the boat through the circles - don't spin it.


3. I still don't know what to do about windward sheeting
   
   Remember, a 420 has a lousy setup where the jib leads are actually in the wrong place. That said, you use windward sheeting to get a better angle on the sail. It's a bit hard to explain in an email, but here's what you're looking for... If you get down in the boat and look straight up towards the top of the mast, you will see the leech of the main and the leech of the jib. They should be parrallel to each other as they go towards the top - this is called the Slot. The best way to get the feel of this is to rig a boat on shore and then play with sail trim. If you strap the leeward sheet and have no weather sheet, you'll see that the foot of the jib is closed off in that slot. If you have less leeward sheet and lots of weather sheet, you'll see that the top of the sail gets closed and that the foot is out.


4. How much jib halyard should I have?
   
   When you apply halyard tension, you are pulling the entire mast forward. As you let it off, you are letting the entire mast go aft. The best way to judge is to get the boat sailing upwind, and then have the skipper let go of the tiller. You want to have a little bit of weather helm (the boat should want to head up on its own). Just remember that during the course of a few hours, you may need to adjust your rig tension if the breeze builds or lightens.

Notes from Yesterday (3/31)

Top 10 Observations from yesterday:

1. Skippers - get the main in tight before the tacks


2. Crews - keep your feet together at all times; the only time you straddle the centerboard trunk is when sailing wing-on-wing


3. Skippers - drive with your main and not your tiller. You have to make sure to have an over-hand grip on the mainsheet (Will, this is you) so that you can easily ease and trim


4. TIMING - especially on the tacks, skippers do not roll until the crews roll


5. Wing-to-Wing Jibes - Remember, especially with our boats at school, crews always have a jib sheet in each hand and do NOT let go




• Board down


• Feet back


• Reverse the Tiller


• Crews take the jib sheet from the skipper's hand, grab the vang, and SIT


• Skippers reach up and grab all 4 parts of the main sheet


• Pull the main over and do NOT let go


• Skippers flatten and pump


• Skippers exchange and reach for the jib


• Crews, as soon as the boat is flat, stand straight up in the middle of the boat, put your weight on your windward foot, and wing the jib by pulling straight up through the lead


• Board up


• Re-set the vang




6. With reach to reach jibes, crews keep their feet together


7. Skippers flatten the jibes and stay forward


8. To find the lay-line to the boat, try ducking the boat and then sailing on a close-hauled course. You know that you are on the lay-line when you just barely clear the stern corner of the boat when sailing up-wind


9. When sailing up-wind, make sure that you are always "pointing at the weather mark." Crews, it is your job to make sure that you are sailing the lifted tack.


10. To slow your boat down-wind, put the board down, slide your weight back, over-trim your main, and center the jib