Received: from hplms26.hpl.hp.com by opus.hpl.hp.com with SMTP (1.37.109.8/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1) id AA23440; Fri, 14 Apr 1995 17:21:26 -0700 Return-Path: <jackg@cache.crc.ricoh.com-DeleteThis> Received: from cache.crc.ricoh.com by hplms26.hpl.hp.com with SMTP ($Revision: 1.36.108.11 $/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1S) id AA224393819; Fri, 14 Apr 1995 16:57:10 -0700 Received: by cache.crc.ricoh.com (5.57/Ultrix3.0-C) id AA00738; Fri, 14 Apr 95 16:53:48 -0700 Received: from localhost by downhaul.crc.ricoh.com.crc.ricoh.com (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA09022; Thu, 13 Apr 95 15:52:41 PDT Message-Id: <9504132252.AA09022@downhaul.crc.ricoh.com.crc.ricoh.com-DeleteThis> To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis Subject: Re: Race Sails In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 13 Apr 1995 15:33:12 PDT." <Roam.1.1.797812110.5627.york@uask4it> Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 15:52:41 -0700 From: Jack Greenbaum <jackg@cache.crc.ricoh.com-DeleteThis>
On Thu, 13 Apr 1995 15:33:12 PDT Stephen York wrote:
> Go for it. I learned on race sails. The only tricky thing is that some
> are a little harder to flip on the jibe. I think you will grow into it
> pretty fast.
I bought a set of race sails durring the winter, having sailed wave
sails exclusively before. I started making jibes last season. The
transition has been more good than bad:
* Race sails are much more stable and thus have more range. I can rig at
least .5 meter more sail than I could before. The stability means it's
easier to control when you would be overpowered on a softer sail and a
generally more controlled ride when properly rigged.
* They're harder to get flying when trying to water start, and to get
into position when in the water. RAF's are nice because you can always
grab the mast and pull forward to bring them on top of the water. Poping
the cambers is a drag, and its harder to get flying because of water in
the luff sleve. This might go away when I get more used to them, its
already easier after just a few sessions. I haven't gone out into the
channel yet and tried to water start in breaking chop though.
* Jibing is harder in two ways. First, it's harder to depower the
sail. Unless you really "oversheet" the sail seems to just keep pulling
you in the direction you were already going. Second, the flip is harder
because you have to pop the cams. I've heard that newer sails are easier
to pop, mine are '91 Sailworks and you really have to pull.
If you are comfortable with your water starts then I'd say go for
it. The added range and control are enough to compensate for the
difficulties in jibing. Instead of rerigging you'll be doing more jibes.
Jack Greenbaum -- Research Engineer, Ricoh California Research Center
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