chaplinesq
New Member
I too came back to the Sunfish. In the mid 70's (my sailing "youth," late twentys, chrono-age), Carl Knight, Derrick Fries, Dave Chapin, Dianne Harrison were at the top of the regatta spreads, and had me wondering what I didn't know. What I didn't know was that the old round bottomed centerboard was way faster; that you could actually move the gooseneck?! I went to a NA's at Association Island (JensH was there), and watched them lap me, ooching, sculling, rocking, rolling. Disheartening.
Last summer I bought a used "new-er" (no metal guard rail) Sunfish. Drives like a Porsche compared to what I remember. I bought a new racing sail, new centerboard, and replaced the wood rudder with a white one, new tiller extension, outhaul and cunningham lines, jens line/cleat, new mast (the "old" one was bent),. Long story short, I should have bought a new boat. Oh well. But, then it probably wouldn't have had the outhaul/cunningham lines/cleats, jens lines/cleats; would it? I bought Dayton Collie/David Loring's video and instantly wanted more Sunfishfilm. C'mon, guys; give me more film to watch and learn. I'm still sailing without mainsheet cleats. I wrap the sheet around the tip of the tiller extension in heavy air. Whoah, dude!
At this summer's NA's in Charleston, I saw the new rudder. It was black, like Todd Edward's. Must be fast, if it's black; right?! It was sitting on a table and I asked about it. Rob Eberle said it was a proto-type; and his "attitude" about it was telling. My immediate thought was the same. Don't give me a choice. Don't make me carry two complete rudder assemblies to regattas. Don't make me have to decide, like the danged jens rig, whether to use it that day or knot.
Since then, I have been breathed the breath of indecision called the GUST ADJUST jens rig, which essentially is two halyards; and throw in the added idea of an adjustable vang, that you see in the YouTube video? Eureka. I'm regatta ready NOW!
I just finished reading the Sunfish forums "scholarship" on the new rudder. All good; little to go on, science-wise. No tank testing. No match race results, all other things being equal. The "pro's" are ready to toss it into the soup and see if it tastes good. If it wins...it's good. Agreed. That's a huge jump for a manufacturer and a class to take, without the science. Paul Foerster's comments on thickness/stalling makes me crazy. Now I have to what?! But he knows...he knows. If he wants one, so do I. Keep him in the class, guys.
The "take my word for it" on the water testing by the gurus, is promising. Upwind in heavy air, offwind are improved...all good. I want one. I want to use it, race with it, love it. Make me one, make it instantly available so I can have it yesterday, and everyone else in the world who wants one can too. I don't want any advantage, when I win. Hard to do. Tough row to hoe, hill to climb. Buy stock in that company when it is class legal. I'll buy two.
Back to what I still don't know, or understand. How the jens rig improves heavy air performance when it drops the CLE back, on the boat (blah blah about twisting the upper spar, and spilling air). How the new rudder improves weather helm by moving CLR forward (re: Bill McLaughlin). Both, counter-intuitive. Give me science. Give me match race results. Give me a new rudder, to try. Make me MAGIC BULLET FAST! I'll be at Lewes, for the upcoming Masters; if "they" will loan me one, I'll take the DSQ's. Seriously, I will.
John R Helman DMD
Last summer I bought a used "new-er" (no metal guard rail) Sunfish. Drives like a Porsche compared to what I remember. I bought a new racing sail, new centerboard, and replaced the wood rudder with a white one, new tiller extension, outhaul and cunningham lines, jens line/cleat, new mast (the "old" one was bent),. Long story short, I should have bought a new boat. Oh well. But, then it probably wouldn't have had the outhaul/cunningham lines/cleats, jens lines/cleats; would it? I bought Dayton Collie/David Loring's video and instantly wanted more Sunfishfilm. C'mon, guys; give me more film to watch and learn. I'm still sailing without mainsheet cleats. I wrap the sheet around the tip of the tiller extension in heavy air. Whoah, dude!
At this summer's NA's in Charleston, I saw the new rudder. It was black, like Todd Edward's. Must be fast, if it's black; right?! It was sitting on a table and I asked about it. Rob Eberle said it was a proto-type; and his "attitude" about it was telling. My immediate thought was the same. Don't give me a choice. Don't make me carry two complete rudder assemblies to regattas. Don't make me have to decide, like the danged jens rig, whether to use it that day or knot.
Since then, I have been breathed the breath of indecision called the GUST ADJUST jens rig, which essentially is two halyards; and throw in the added idea of an adjustable vang, that you see in the YouTube video? Eureka. I'm regatta ready NOW!
I just finished reading the Sunfish forums "scholarship" on the new rudder. All good; little to go on, science-wise. No tank testing. No match race results, all other things being equal. The "pro's" are ready to toss it into the soup and see if it tastes good. If it wins...it's good. Agreed. That's a huge jump for a manufacturer and a class to take, without the science. Paul Foerster's comments on thickness/stalling makes me crazy. Now I have to what?! But he knows...he knows. If he wants one, so do I. Keep him in the class, guys.
The "take my word for it" on the water testing by the gurus, is promising. Upwind in heavy air, offwind are improved...all good. I want one. I want to use it, race with it, love it. Make me one, make it instantly available so I can have it yesterday, and everyone else in the world who wants one can too. I don't want any advantage, when I win. Hard to do. Tough row to hoe, hill to climb. Buy stock in that company when it is class legal. I'll buy two.
Back to what I still don't know, or understand. How the jens rig improves heavy air performance when it drops the CLE back, on the boat (blah blah about twisting the upper spar, and spilling air). How the new rudder improves weather helm by moving CLR forward (re: Bill McLaughlin). Both, counter-intuitive. Give me science. Give me match race results. Give me a new rudder, to try. Make me MAGIC BULLET FAST! I'll be at Lewes, for the upcoming Masters; if "they" will loan me one, I'll take the DSQ's. Seriously, I will.
John R Helman DMD