Clear Lake Yacht Club: Forum Posts

To wax or not to wax?

Jim Grant

The problem is that there is very little laminar flow over our boards in any case. Boats just bob around too much and our boards are so skinny that they do not keep water attached. And the hulls are so large that laminar flow there is also relatively limited. Indeed, it could be argued that more turbulent flow in areas where laminar flow is not likely might be an advantage.

To wax or not to wax?

Jim Grant

The standard argument is that laminar flow is desired to the extent possible. And, because wax causes the water to bead up or detach from the surface, laminar flow is inhibited.

To wax or not to wax?

Jim Grant

Jim Grant wrote:

I vote for waxing just because I like to feel the smooth clean bottom! And my aluminum boards stay brighter much longer when waxed.

This is a "quoted reply" with watching turned on.

To wax or not to wax?

Jim Grant

I vote for waxing just because I like to feel the smooth clean bottom! And my aluminum boards stay brighter much longer when waxed.

Pinching

Jim Grant

In light air I like to hand sheet the jib. Of course, that applies only in the case of boats with jibs!

Pinching

Jim Grant

In heavy air it can be beneficial to vang hard and actually ease the main a bit -- especially if there is a good deal of chop.

Pinching

Jim Grant

It is easy to forget that speed through the water is more important than pointing, in part because speed itself will increase the efficiency of the boards and, thus, improve pointing

Mark Rounding

Jim Grant

Most books recommend rounding marks by coming in wide and exiting close anyway. Frankly, I do not understand how this can be better except when you consider rounding in a group.

Mark Rounding

Jim Grant

In a crowd it is often a good idea to slow down and pass wide round the mark in order to gain an inside position where the air is clear or where it will be possible to quickly tack away from the crowd.

Starting

Admin Admin

I am replying to my own post just to test the system.

Starting

Jim Grant

I am convinced that the only way to get a good start in a fleet of any size is to idle up to the line in the first row of boats. Acceleration off the line should begin with about 17 seconds to go. Hopefully there will be a bit of room below so that an initial reach to gain speed is possible.

This means that one must be able to control the boat even at very slow speeds. Dropping both boards in an MC makes this relatively easy. In a Scot the crew should consider using the jib as a brake. Indeed, "heaving too" with the jib on the windward side is not a bad idea for at least short intervals.

The Upwind Leg

Jim Grant

Keep scows healed over to the point where the leeward board is vertical. MC scows can easily be sailed with too much heal -- C scows do not seem overly sensitive to overhealing so long as it is within reason.

Scots should be kept as flat as possible. Only in very light air is a bit of heal justified -- here it can help to keep shape in the sails.