Re: How a Micro Sails
I get a kick out of sitting in my cockpit, in 12 - 15 kts of breeze,
waving to the other skippers with one hand, the other wrapped around a
drink while they struggle with tiller or wheel to maintain their
heading. They all look at my "no hands" trick like I must be nuts
putting an autopilot on such a little boat. It's really just a matter
of getting the two sails balance, then she steers herself on a
constant angle to the wind, as long as I don't run out of river.
I do find in light wind I have to grab the boom and backwind the main
to tack. But once past the eye of the wind I just let go of everything
again, and she quickly takes the new heading without any further
coaxing.
Some big boat sailors have commented on their surprise at how well she
points up. A cat boat shouldn't do that. But that's what the mizzen
does - kicks the stern off the wind, which makes the bow head up.
Neat.
waving to the other skippers with one hand, the other wrapped around a
drink while they struggle with tiller or wheel to maintain their
heading. They all look at my "no hands" trick like I must be nuts
putting an autopilot on such a little boat. It's really just a matter
of getting the two sails balance, then she steers herself on a
constant angle to the wind, as long as I don't run out of river.
I do find in light wind I have to grab the boom and backwind the main
to tack. But once past the eye of the wind I just let go of everything
again, and she quickly takes the new heading without any further
coaxing.
Some big boat sailors have commented on their surprise at how well she
points up. A cat boat shouldn't do that. But that's what the mizzen
does - kicks the stern off the wind, which makes the bow head up.
Neat.
Happiness is getting Microfied!
You have got yourself the all-time sail-bum boat!Based on my lousy
habits,I never fiddle with the mizzen,even down wind,except if I am
trying to show-off or racing.The mizzen is sheeted in tight and stays
that way regardless of my heading.I adjust for wind strengths by
letting out the mainsnotter in light air or pulling her in tight when
the winds gets up over 15kts.Tacking is just a question of easing out
the main and pushing the tiller over easy.
It has gotten to the point where I can short tack in the marina(tight
spaces!) with one hand on the mainsheet,a toe on the tiller while
never spilling a drop of beer from the glass held by the other hand!
Sure,this sounds like recklessness and very busy cockpit work but it
ain't.......just lots of practice in getting to know your boat so
well your level of confidence is right up there.The Micro will
surprise and amuse all those who see and sail her :-D
Happy sailing!!!!
Peter Lenihan,Micro paramour par excellence...............
You have got yourself the all-time sail-bum boat!Based on my lousy
habits,I never fiddle with the mizzen,even down wind,except if I am
trying to show-off or racing.The mizzen is sheeted in tight and stays
that way regardless of my heading.I adjust for wind strengths by
letting out the mainsnotter in light air or pulling her in tight when
the winds gets up over 15kts.Tacking is just a question of easing out
the main and pushing the tiller over easy.
It has gotten to the point where I can short tack in the marina(tight
spaces!) with one hand on the mainsheet,a toe on the tiller while
never spilling a drop of beer from the glass held by the other hand!
Sure,this sounds like recklessness and very busy cockpit work but it
ain't.......just lots of practice in getting to know your boat so
well your level of confidence is right up there.The Micro will
surprise and amuse all those who see and sail her :-D
Happy sailing!!!!
Peter Lenihan,Micro paramour par excellence...............
--- In bolger@y..., "mmeroberts" <martin.me.roberts@b...> wrote:
> couple of attempts I found I could get the bow into the wind by
> letting OUT the sail. This was a revelation, As I went round and
> round trying to pick up a buoy, I found that I was able to let the
> tiller do her own thing and I just steered with the mainsail. I
now
> know why I hit a boat on the day of launch. If I had let go of the
> sail she would have rounded into the wind and we would have stopped!
>
> I would be interested to know if this behaviour is common to all
> micros ad also what happens as the wind picks up? Will she still
> respond as favourably using the sails?
http://www.roostergraphics.com/drlaser/FAQ1/FAQpatios.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "mmeroberts" <martin.me.roberts@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 4:38 AM
Subject: [bolger] Re: How a Micro Sails
> Andy Moore used the following phrase:
> > 2. Foot off slightly
>
> Can you enlighten a newbie as to what you mean please?
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - pls take "personals" off-list, stay on topic, and punctuate
> - add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts, snip all you like
> - To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,
01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
> > 2. Foot off slightlyFor a boat sailing to windward, "to point" means to turn slightly
> Can you enlighten a newbie as to what you mean please?
closer to the wind to favor pointing over speed, and "to foot" means
to turn slighly away from the wind to favor speed over being close to
the wind. The idea is to get the boat moving as fast as possible
before tacking and up to speed again as quickly as possible after
tacking.
Peter
Andy Moore used the following phrase:
> 2. Foot off slightlyCan you enlighten a newbie as to what you mean please?
I agree, this is no big surprise to me. The main sail on a micro is
big, compared to the mizzen and would easily overpower it under those
circumstances. Try this racing tip the next time you are out.
1. Ease the main slightly
2. Foot off slightly
3. Pause as the boat gains power
4. Then tack with out trimming your main
5. Once on the other tack leave the sail eased and foot off again.
6. Pause as the boat regains speed and power coming out of the tack.
7. Trim the main and head up once up to speed.
If you have to tack quick just ease and go but do 5 through 7 once on
the other tack anyway, it will get you back under control faster.
Sounds like a hassle but becomes second nature after awhile.
May you always be on Starboard tack.
--
Andy Moore
Nova Scotia
Canada
On Mon, 2002-05-13 at 10:51, Richard Spelling wrote: This behavior is
correct for a cat yawl. The main ce is ahead of the clr.
Think of letting the genoa out on a sloop, the main pulls you up into
the
wind. With a yawl, you let the main out and the mizzen will head you up.
It would be just like setting the genoa out
big, compared to the mizzen and would easily overpower it under those
circumstances. Try this racing tip the next time you are out.
1. Ease the main slightly
2. Foot off slightly
3. Pause as the boat gains power
4. Then tack with out trimming your main
5. Once on the other tack leave the sail eased and foot off again.
6. Pause as the boat regains speed and power coming out of the tack.
7. Trim the main and head up once up to speed.
If you have to tack quick just ease and go but do 5 through 7 once on
the other tack anyway, it will get you back under control faster.
Sounds like a hassle but becomes second nature after awhile.
May you always be on Starboard tack.
--
Andy Moore
Nova Scotia
Canada
On Mon, 2002-05-13 at 10:51, Richard Spelling wrote: This behavior is
correct for a cat yawl. The main ce is ahead of the clr.
Think of letting the genoa out on a sloop, the main pulls you up into
the
wind. With a yawl, you let the main out and the mizzen will head you up.
It would be just like setting the genoa out
----- Original Message -----
From: "mmeroberts" <martin.me.roberts@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 8:28 AM
Subject: [bolger] How a Micro Sails
This behavior is correct for a cat yawl. The main ce is ahead of the clr.
Think of letting the genoa out on a sloop, the main pulls you up into the
wind. With a yawl, you let the main out and the mizzen will head you up.
It would be just like setting the genoa out
Think of letting the genoa out on a sloop, the main pulls you up into the
wind. With a yawl, you let the main out and the mizzen will head you up.
It would be just like setting the genoa out
----- Original Message -----
From: "mmeroberts" <martin.me.roberts@...>
To: <bolger@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 8:28 AM
Subject: [bolger] How a Micro Sails
>
> Evently went went onto a broad reach and enjoyed a pick up in
> speed. I pulled in the mizzen sheet more as I came more to
> windward. Eventually letting her do her own thing. As I came to
> windward I found that I got a big surprise. I pulled in the main to
> help Applecross tack and I found that the harder I pulled in the main
> the more she fell off and refused to respond to the rudder. After a
> couple of attempts I found I could get the bow into the wind by
> letting OUT the sail. This was a revelation, As I went round and
> round trying to pick up a buoy, I found that I was able to let the
> tiller do her own thing and I just steered with the mainsail. I now
> know why I hit a boat on the day of launch. If I had let go of the
> sail she would have rounded into the wind and we would have stopped!
>
> I would be interested to know if this behaviour is common to all
> micros ad also what happens as the wind picks up? Will she still
> respond as favourably using the sails?
>
>
>
> Bolger rules!!!
> - no cursing, flaming, trolling, spamming, or flogging dead horses
> - pls take "personals" off-list, stay on topic, and punctuate
> - add your comments at the TOP and SIGN your posts, snip all you like
> - To order plans: Mr. Philip C. Bolger, P.O. Box 1209, Gloucester, MA,
01930, Fax: (978) 282-1349
> - Unsubscribe:bolger-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject tohttp://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
I have aquired a Micro second hand, and have finally launched her
onto her moorings. On the way to the mooring we had a scare as she
did not seem to behave as we had expected. I therefore went on the
web to find out how to sail a micro and apart from one article from
Peter Lenihan, I found nothing. I thought I would therefore describe
what I found out on my first real sail.
On a wet day with little wind on a tidal river in the UK. I took
Applecross out with my 11 year old son. We motored from mooring and
put the Sails up away from the other boats. We went down wind
gentlely against the tide. This was great for me as it gave me a
time to think things through.
Evently went went onto a broad reach and enjoyed a pick up in
speed. I pulled in the mizzen sheet more as I came more to
windward. Eventually letting her do her own thing. As I came to
windward I found that I got a big surprise. I pulled in the main to
help Applecross tack and I found that the harder I pulled in the main
the more she fell off and refused to respond to the rudder. After a
couple of attempts I found I could get the bow into the wind by
letting OUT the sail. This was a revelation, As I went round and
round trying to pick up a buoy, I found that I was able to let the
tiller do her own thing and I just steered with the mainsail. I now
know why I hit a boat on the day of launch. If I had let go of the
sail she would have rounded into the wind and we would have stopped!
I would be interested to know if this behaviour is common to all
micros ad also what happens as the wind picks up? Will she still
respond as favourably using the sails?
onto her moorings. On the way to the mooring we had a scare as she
did not seem to behave as we had expected. I therefore went on the
web to find out how to sail a micro and apart from one article from
Peter Lenihan, I found nothing. I thought I would therefore describe
what I found out on my first real sail.
On a wet day with little wind on a tidal river in the UK. I took
Applecross out with my 11 year old son. We motored from mooring and
put the Sails up away from the other boats. We went down wind
gentlely against the tide. This was great for me as it gave me a
time to think things through.
Evently went went onto a broad reach and enjoyed a pick up in
speed. I pulled in the mizzen sheet more as I came more to
windward. Eventually letting her do her own thing. As I came to
windward I found that I got a big surprise. I pulled in the main to
help Applecross tack and I found that the harder I pulled in the main
the more she fell off and refused to respond to the rudder. After a
couple of attempts I found I could get the bow into the wind by
letting OUT the sail. This was a revelation, As I went round and
round trying to pick up a buoy, I found that I was able to let the
tiller do her own thing and I just steered with the mainsail. I now
know why I hit a boat on the day of launch. If I had let go of the
sail she would have rounded into the wind and we would have stopped!
I would be interested to know if this behaviour is common to all
micros ad also what happens as the wind picks up? Will she still
respond as favourably using the sails?