Daggerboard was down?so my question is this - there were times when the wind was very light, and I could tell that the boat was moving very slowly, but sideways - I couldn't get it to go forward!
Daggerboard was down?. . .there were also times when I would be sailing (slowly), and I could not get the boat to sail straight if the rudder was held on a straight course, that is, I would have to hold the rudder out quite a bit just to keep the boat sailing straight.
From a mid-point of around 19", sliding the boom back increases weather helm (boat wants to point into the wind ... light air balance is ~ 16" - 17), forward decreases weather helm, too far forward (>25") and boat wants to point away from the wind (lee helm - unstable).I adjusted the gooseneck back and forth a couple times, but it didn't seem to help too much.
yeah, board was down - most of the way, anyway.Daggerboard was down?
Sit so the boat is heeled to leeward as though the wind were stronger than it really is and let the sail out some.
Daggerboard was down?
With the rudder held straight, was the boat falling off or pointing up?
Anytime you need to steer very much off center to keep the boat on course you are introducing rudder drag (putting on the brakes). This is the situation excessive weather helm causes.
Might you have been attempting to sail too close to the wind and without much forward motion you were being pushed to leeward? This would be exacerbated by sitting toward the back of the cockpit thereby lifting the bow.
From a mid-point of around 19", sliding the boom back increases weather helm (boat wants to point into the wind ... light air balance is ~ 16" - 17), forward decreases weather helm, too far forward (>25") and boat wants to point away from the wind (lee helm - unstable).
I had to ask . . .yeah, board was down - most of the way, anyway.
I hate that. I switched away from using cassette tape for my wind indicator because it was so sensitive it would show there was wind when the wind wasn't sufficient enough to drive the boat.Falling off - there wasn't much wind at all, and it was so spotty at times, so I'm sure I was randomly pointing the wrong way, and could have been trying to sail to close to the wind. I moved my position all over the place - sitting in the middle, sitting on the back of the cockpit, sitting down in the cockpit.
Mastering light wind is a valuable skill.I don't really want to re-create the problems, as I'd prefer to avoid sailing in that light of winds, but if it does come up again, it'll be nice to know how to adjust the rigging to get it to work at least a little better.
I hate that. I switched away from using cassette tape for my wind indicator because it was so sensitive it would show there was wind when the wind wasn't sufficient enough to drive the boat.
I now use fine strands of yarn. If the yarn stands out I can sail, if the yarn just hangs there I paddle or get out more sunscreen.
How were all those other boats doing who were launching when you did?
Mastering light wind is a valuable skill.
I had to ask . . .
I hate that. I switched away from using cassette tape for my wind indicator because it was so sensitive it would show there was wind when the wind wasn't sufficient enough to drive the boat.
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I put mine on the spar ahead of the mast ... Wind IndicatorWhere do you have the yarn set up for a wind indicator? I don't have any wind indicator(s) set up yet, and didn't get tell-tales (they were back-ordered and I never tried checking again), plus I swear someone on the Forum just said that telltales didn't work that well on a Sunfish... is that true?
Sounds like it was just the day and not your sailing. Cats hate light wind. Sunfish can sail circles around them.They seemed to be about the same (not much luck, just slowly drifting along). The cat was quitting right when I did.
I believe that's what's called "a good day for canoeing".I just think this wasn't even light wind, it was no wind,
Petrel - it is decent sized, I guess - but is really just a dammed up river, so width varies quite a bit, and there are random little islands here and there as well. The wind tends to vary a lot over by those islands, and I guess somewhat out in the open areas as well.Tag, was your lake a small one or with a lot of varied wind?
Thanks to all the good suggestions and feedback on this thread. It's given me better understanding of how to cope when the wind goes soft.
The d'board is a foil and it requires flow to generate the necessary side force (lift). If it's moving sidewise with no fore and aft flow, it will stall; have pressure on the leeward face and eddies (unproductive energy dissipation) on the windward. . . and will just drift sidewise.
You would need to fall off or otherwise pick up a little speed, then you can head up again with flow. Trouble is, the rudder (It's also a flow-requirng foil.) depends on the d'board for leverage, and it doesn't work well, either, unless you jerk it (scull).
That does not work very well. Gets tied around the end cap, outhaul, etc. BBas an easy wind indicator, would it be OK to just attach yarn or cassette tape to the top point of the upper spar?
1) For light (and variable) wind sailing, this is absolutely the best tip I've seen.Daggerboard was down?
Sit so the boat is heeled to leeward as though the wind were stronger than it really is and let the sail out some.
"Just wait, in two hours time, you won't be able to see me."
At long last, I found the photo I wanted to use.do you have a photo of that?