New Tricks for Old SeaDogs.

Any boat that can do 6 knots in 5-kn winds is a blast. Of course, in 20 kn winds, it is a white knuckle ride. The basics of sail trim which Ken G. and John N. imparted to us still apply, but we have had to adapt to the new rig.

As Ken C. mentioned, trying to make the ticklers on the jib break togrther is a bit tricky. It seems that the best thing to do, as Colin suggested, is to move the jib cars forward and get as much draft in the jib as practical. I don't think we are ready for tapered jib sheets as suggested in one of the blogs.

The main sail seems to require more attention. Getting the sail shape right took a little time. With the floating tack we ended up placing the Cunningham hook in the tack cringle to tension the luff. We ended up with an annoying horizontal crease at the first batten. However, yanking on the boom vang straightened this out. We kept the boom vang tensioned throughout the sail which also helped to keep the main off the spreaders. I suppose we will need to send the sails out this winter to have reinforcing patches where they touch the spreaders. It seems this is a problem on this type of rig with swept back spreaders and no backstay.

Choreographing the crew during tacking and gybing is another consideration especially when the helmsman and mainsheet crew have to switch sides and squeeze through the space between the mainsheet and traveler rigging at the same time. When racing, I would like to practice at the dock first and then fine tune on the water.

I am looking forward to flying the spinnakers! I'm sure we need a clinic.

One last tip, when flaking the mainsail, tie the forward sail tie through the ring (cringle?) at the head of the sail to stop it from flopping around.

The Martins have added a new dimension to our Club.