Hi,
I'm returning to Sunfish racing after a 20 year hiatus, and I need some advice, help, and dare I say, moral support.
Tried to race my old boat last Monday night. I broke, good. It was a great boat in 1974, but the consesus was that there just wasn't much left to it. So after discussion with the local expert, I bought a new boat, with the "Pro Pack:" racing sale, already installed cunningham and outhaul, etc. So I can have no quibbles about the boat, in terms of performance. It's all on me, tuning, boat handling, tactics, etc.
Raced Sunday, and did well enough to make myself happy. Wind was steady, and gusting over 15. I'm 180, and I guess I had the sail tuned right, gooseneck at 17.5, because the boat felt quick and light, accelerated well. I got three good starts and two good finishes out of 5 races.
Monday was a different matter: The junior racing program races with us then, so there were about 20 boats on a short line. It was difficult for me to find my way around, and I didn't get off one good start. There were boats all over the place. Plus I couldn't get the boat going, whether due to bad air, bad boat handling, bad tuning, or all three. The wind was light -- under 10 for the most part. I moved the gooseneck to 16.5, but the boat didn't seem to point. A demoralizing day when I didn't break mid-fleet.
So, here's where I could use some help: I haven't tuned one of these boats in 20 years, and while I read all the (little bit) of literature that came with the boat, I feel I'm doing it wrong for light air: gooseneck position, outhauls, etc. My sail looks flatter than most, probably because it's new, but also perhaps because I have the outhauls too far to the ends. Any articles I should read, any books to buy, any advice? Any clinics coming up, anywhere around Long island, NY?
Also, I do feel at a bit of a disadvantage, in that the kids have a coach to point out their flaws, and race every day (and of course, start out a lot more flexible than me!). The Grand Masters here have continuously sailed the boat for years and years. I'm returning, and feel a bit at a loss. I'd like to get back in the game, and improve my race. Anyone else deal with this? I don't want to get demoralized, but it could easily happen.
Thanks,
BMF
I'm returning to Sunfish racing after a 20 year hiatus, and I need some advice, help, and dare I say, moral support.
Tried to race my old boat last Monday night. I broke, good. It was a great boat in 1974, but the consesus was that there just wasn't much left to it. So after discussion with the local expert, I bought a new boat, with the "Pro Pack:" racing sale, already installed cunningham and outhaul, etc. So I can have no quibbles about the boat, in terms of performance. It's all on me, tuning, boat handling, tactics, etc.
Raced Sunday, and did well enough to make myself happy. Wind was steady, and gusting over 15. I'm 180, and I guess I had the sail tuned right, gooseneck at 17.5, because the boat felt quick and light, accelerated well. I got three good starts and two good finishes out of 5 races.
Monday was a different matter: The junior racing program races with us then, so there were about 20 boats on a short line. It was difficult for me to find my way around, and I didn't get off one good start. There were boats all over the place. Plus I couldn't get the boat going, whether due to bad air, bad boat handling, bad tuning, or all three. The wind was light -- under 10 for the most part. I moved the gooseneck to 16.5, but the boat didn't seem to point. A demoralizing day when I didn't break mid-fleet.
So, here's where I could use some help: I haven't tuned one of these boats in 20 years, and while I read all the (little bit) of literature that came with the boat, I feel I'm doing it wrong for light air: gooseneck position, outhauls, etc. My sail looks flatter than most, probably because it's new, but also perhaps because I have the outhauls too far to the ends. Any articles I should read, any books to buy, any advice? Any clinics coming up, anywhere around Long island, NY?
Also, I do feel at a bit of a disadvantage, in that the kids have a coach to point out their flaws, and race every day (and of course, start out a lot more flexible than me!). The Grand Masters here have continuously sailed the boat for years and years. I'm returning, and feel a bit at a loss. I'd like to get back in the game, and improve my race. Anyone else deal with this? I don't want to get demoralized, but it could easily happen.
Thanks,
BMF