So you have all this time off when your a teacher and now the van is finished and the house is done you think you would be able to go and sail. In theory Yes, In practice you need wind to have a good sail especially if your not racing!!
Yesterday afternoon/evening was at first looking promising. Wind direction SW which is great and a steady force 4 I was hoping to be able to get a few hours in and set a course up using club buoys to practice for the next opportunity I have to race (unfortunately with summer holidays, strange tides and racing big boats I have had little time to sail after breaking up from school (i.e. teaching). It turned out to be a bit disappointing. The wind died and although the upwind legs were enough to get out on the wire, downwind was a little on the dull side. Having said this it did give me a chance to practice some different ways of gybing (from standing/ kneeing and sitting). Technique he is getting there as I am using weight more to steer and lots less rudder which can only mean faster on a race course. The other thing I noticed is how in light to medium winds minor adjustments of the controls makes a massive difference to flow over the sail and boat speed. The sail has 4 sets of tell tails, 3 on the sail high medium and low and 1 set on the leach. It was really useful to spend time on the rig without having to think about trim so much so not a total waste of the afternoon.
I left the mast up last night in the hope the breeze would fill in today and it looks like it has thank god! The only issue now is will it stay when the tide gets here? Humm, I'll let you know later...
Wednesday 31 July 2013
Sunday 21 July 2013
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Breeze on!!
What a perfect afternoon. Managed to get away from school on time and straight down to the club. I put the mast up on the boat last night so it was rig tension on, gear on and out. The sea breeze had filled in to about a 3 so it was out to play! As I made my way out of the moorings the breeze increased a little and I found myself flat wiring and powering upwind. The boat felt well balanced after minor adjustments to trim and I blasted up the side of Northey Island and out into the bay. I decided to do a bit of training and figured a rough triangle course using the club racing marks and a nav buoy. This forced me to think speed and then work out the best way to trim the sail whilst out on the wire. Unlike the 700 which has continuous control lines going to the rack which gives for reasonably easy change of control my Farr has a slightly different set up and although they come out to the edge of the cockpit they are less easy to change when out on the wire. This is something I think I will look at along with the cleating system on the main in the winter, but for now I just want to sail without playing too much.
As time went on the breeze increased and there seemed to be more breeze on one side of the river so in true Cherub style I ditched the race training in favour of a pure blast!!!! All I can say is if you want to have the thrill of a planning sail without the continuous swimming you get when learning to sail other skiffs, then think Farr!! Off the wind it gives the pure feeling of speed you get from sailing a 12 foot boat with a bit more stability. Although blasting I did decide to develop gybing which I must admit is different from the 7 due to the low boom height and lack of room. It is more an in kneel and duck affair than a run and duck. Also the tiller is slightly further forward that other Farr's so that restricts the room as well so it is all about figuring the best way forward. Like the Laser a good pull on the mainsheet aids this but I am finding that then movement is needed forward to keep the boat flat. By using the chines as well you use a lot less rudder and this keeps the boat moving. I kinda did all of these but I would say I'm still a way off perfecting it. Gutted I didn't have the GPS out with me but I did manage to get the live weather read out. Top gust was 22knots at the club and it there was more breeze out where I was. All in all a bloody enjoyable sail!!!
The only slight downer was the tide went out too soon and no water and having raise the dagger board up above the boom = a capsize into 2ft of water and a muddy mast and sail.
For cast looks good for tomorrow so I might see if the GPS is going to play ball for tomorrow.
As time went on the breeze increased and there seemed to be more breeze on one side of the river so in true Cherub style I ditched the race training in favour of a pure blast!!!! All I can say is if you want to have the thrill of a planning sail without the continuous swimming you get when learning to sail other skiffs, then think Farr!! Off the wind it gives the pure feeling of speed you get from sailing a 12 foot boat with a bit more stability. Although blasting I did decide to develop gybing which I must admit is different from the 7 due to the low boom height and lack of room. It is more an in kneel and duck affair than a run and duck. Also the tiller is slightly further forward that other Farr's so that restricts the room as well so it is all about figuring the best way forward. Like the Laser a good pull on the mainsheet aids this but I am finding that then movement is needed forward to keep the boat flat. By using the chines as well you use a lot less rudder and this keeps the boat moving. I kinda did all of these but I would say I'm still a way off perfecting it. Gutted I didn't have the GPS out with me but I did manage to get the live weather read out. Top gust was 22knots at the club and it there was more breeze out where I was. All in all a bloody enjoyable sail!!!
The only slight downer was the tide went out too soon and no water and having raise the dagger board up above the boom = a capsize into 2ft of water and a muddy mast and sail.
For cast looks good for tomorrow so I might see if the GPS is going to play ball for tomorrow.
live weather from BSC website
Monday 1 July 2013
Monday Night Sail
Well after being away this weekend in the Norfolk Broads I was desperate for a sail. Yesterday looked like it was lush. Unfortunately I was stuck on the A140 watching the tree's shake and sway.
So when it looked a steady force 4 from the live weather It was time to get the Farr back out it's box and go for it. I was a little surprised how quickly I can now rig the boat so I was rigged changed and out within 35 minutes!
Well the wind had died a little (7-8 knots) but I still had a great sail. I decided to do a short triangular course to try and refine a few of my very rusty skills which too much crewing has created. Well Let just say I won't make the Olympics yet, but by the end of the night tacking was more fluid and I am starting to figure where the transition from hiking and wiring is for me. I also had a play around with putting the bow down and going for speed 'V' pointing and at times pinching. As the wind was a little shifty to say the least pointing seemed to pay but this is very difficult to judge as there was no other boats out.
All in all although it was not the most exciting sail it was a good chance to learn a little bit more and hopefully improve.
Snipe sailing this weekend at the club so no opportunity to go Farr sail but hopefully there will be the opportunity at the end of next week, so fingers crossed for some hot weather and a sea breeze!
So when it looked a steady force 4 from the live weather It was time to get the Farr back out it's box and go for it. I was a little surprised how quickly I can now rig the boat so I was rigged changed and out within 35 minutes!
Well the wind had died a little (7-8 knots) but I still had a great sail. I decided to do a short triangular course to try and refine a few of my very rusty skills which too much crewing has created. Well Let just say I won't make the Olympics yet, but by the end of the night tacking was more fluid and I am starting to figure where the transition from hiking and wiring is for me. I also had a play around with putting the bow down and going for speed 'V' pointing and at times pinching. As the wind was a little shifty to say the least pointing seemed to pay but this is very difficult to judge as there was no other boats out.
All in all although it was not the most exciting sail it was a good chance to learn a little bit more and hopefully improve.
Snipe sailing this weekend at the club so no opportunity to go Farr sail but hopefully there will be the opportunity at the end of next week, so fingers crossed for some hot weather and a sea breeze!
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