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Downwind Sailing advice

Thanks Jonathon.

28/06/2024 09:11:00
Bruce
Posts: 8

Hi Bruce,

I wouldn't class myself as an expert. But I have been sailing the Aero for 10 years, mostly on a large (for the UK) inland lake. And coming to the Aero from catamaran sailing I have tried sailing downwind in light airs by alternately heading up for speed and then bearing away.

It didn't give any benefit. The one time i tried it, in the 7 rig i'm pretty sure, I lost a lot of ground and ended up way off the leeward mark to windward; against other boats that i'm sure included standard rig Lasers. This was in a coaching class, so not front of fleet sailors.

Instead in another coaching class race in a windward leeward course in light wind I rounded the windward mark at the same time as a standard rig Laser; me in 7 rig. Both of us started the run to the Leeward mark. We both sailed directly downwind, booms slightly ahead of 90 degrees out to port, and heeling the boats to starboard. for atbout a third of the run we were level all the way, I being the outer boat to starboard of the Laser. By heading up slightly. Minimising rudder movement off dead centre, steering by heeling the boat, I steadily pulled ahead of the Laser, but was heading wide of the mark.

However when parallel to the mark I gybed, and still made the mark ahead of the Laser, and finished two boat lengths ahed of him at the start/finish gate, about 1/3 the way up the beat!!

I hope this helps.

Jonathan

27/06/2024 18:14:00
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 120

Advice please - when on a run in light/medium conditions, flat water, do the experts use the S curves technique or just a straight by-the-lee course? I hope that's not a dumb question.

Bruce.

20/06/2024 17:12:00
Bruce
Posts: 8

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