Christian,
There is a big difference between getting the rig just right, and getting
the rig so it's reasonable to sail. While I am the last person to recommend
spending time on the beach, (and the Musto philosophy is to get out on the
water as we can!) from my experience starting a lot of people out,
particularly people new to trapezing, there are certain aspects of the rig
that need to be in the ballpark, or the new sailor is basically going to
spend a lot more time capsizing than needed.
This is a lot easier to do at the start with a Musto, as
a) there are a few less variables,
b) everyone has the same stuff, so getting a reasonable base setup is fairly
well documented.
I see a number of things that can make the boat basically extremely
difficult to sail if the breeze is over 10 knots
1) incorrect trapeze handle height.
2) various combinations of sail setup that result in a sail that does not
allow the top to twist off / flatten out when needed
3) combinations of sail setup that result in a sail that won't allow you to
close the leech at the top and eliminate twist as needed
4) a rig set up that is way under powered so that the person keeps tea
bagging in the lulls in a moderate breeze. Haven't played with the Swift
enough to find the right combinations for this but in the Musto, I like to
set it up so that I can play the top of the leech in the moderate breezes
bringing in a lot of righting moment with very little sheeting action at the
end of the pull. This is done by setting the bridle up so that the last
section of the pull is downwards. Now, this is obviously something that is
completely opposite to the philosophy Bram sets up for the Swift and that
particular trick won't work. I'm not sure what the equivalent would be for
the Swift, but probably has to do with setting up the relativity so that the
jib leech opens and closes at the end of the sheet pull?
At any rate, this is a problem I see a lot on beginner Musto sailors, and
they have the sail set so that there isn't a nice way to transition between
the correct sail force for a puff and a lull with minimal sheet movement.
The end result is that the sailor staggers in the puffs, and then teabags in
the lulls and keeps alternating back and forth until they fall over.
As an example at DeSoto this year, I think it was Paul O'Sullivans boat, but
not 100% sure, at any rate, one of the first times he went out, he was
having a challenging time staying upright, and got tired from capsizing. I
went out in a rescue boat, and hopped on the Swift. I had a lot of
difficulty getting the boat in without capsizing (and this was in a moderate
breeze) After sailing the boat, we came up with a few setup changes that
the boat much more manageable the next time out. Including actually getting
the trapeze handles set in a workable range (the trapeze handle was way too
low at the start so I ended up having to just stand on the edge, hold the
trapeze and feather the boat, and then some of the sail setup added
challenges as well)
In short there is a balance between getting a boat mostly right, and not
getting out and learning on the water. However, if your basic setup is
miles off, an absolute beginner will not know this and assume the problems
lie with his technique and something he is doing.
-----Original Message-----
From: swiftsolo [mailto:swiftsolo@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 3:54 PM
To: Paul O'Sullivan
Cc: keithcouncell@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: look back at fort Desoto things I learnt
Hi Paul,
I think you are more or less right on with your observations. I've had
to
crawl under the boat (turtled) and sticking the CB back in. Its a rather
odd
feeling
being under there with only a few inches of air. :)
The one thing I think could use some improvement during the nationals,
is
the coaching on the water. I think it would be helpful to have a
dedicated
coach to video tape, do on the water coaching as well as video debrief
afterward. There is only so much you can practice on the beach.
Encourage
new guys to be on the water
while there is a rescue boat rather than spend hours on land getting
their
rig "just right" There appears to be a common misconception that the
boat
is totally unsailable if the rig is not perfectly right. I think new
guys
are better off spending a more time on the water and then experiment
with
the rig. Nothing gets you up the learning curve more than go sail. Get
comfortable with the boat, get some on the water tips/coaching.
Thanks,
Christian
On Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 4:17 PM, Paul O'Sullivan
<paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Merry Christmas and or happy holidays to everyone Swifty or Mustomen
.its
> been a great year to meet new people and learn so much about sailing
the
> Swift , I would like to thank everyone who has helped me this year and
> particularly all the crew who went to Fort Desoto. I thought I would
start a
> list of things learnt with the idea that may be others would add to so
here
> goes;
>
> 1, the best thing about sailing is the friends you meet and keep.
>
>
>
> 2, Turn up at the Nationals with your boat finished and ready to sail;
I
> didn't and wasted too many awesome sailing days rigging the boat.
>
> .
>
> 3, Go to a Bram clinic the learning curve is unbelievable.
>
>
>
> 4. Practise on dry land, with the help of friends to sit on the boat,
gets
> out on the wire sort your foot work out,
>
>
>
> 5, Kneel on the side tanks on one knee; the forward knee .huge!! Don't
SIT
> on the tank; it's so much easier to swing out on to the wire.
>
>
>
> 6, Set the kite before you go out to check the thing fly's correctly
.Bram
> has a fool (i.e. me) proof method of rigging the kite, but I forgot
> it...Bram???
>
>
>
> 7, Check your plug and hatch covers in the excitement to launch... An
old
> one but......
>
>
>
> 8, Find someone to go 2 up with, learnt more in 30 mins with Ron Radco
> (thank you) 2 up, than hours of imperfect practice on my own.
>
>
>
> 9,Don't' be afraid of the kite , pick a light breeze and go for it ,
it is
> easier than it looks .Always steer under the kite as you get over
powered .
>
>
>
> 10, when you capsize with the kite up ,ALWAYS pull it down ALL THE WAY
DOWN
> (from the stern ) BEFORE you right the boat Huge!!
>
> 11. Capsizing, I like Bram's method of going over the side and between
the
> jib and the mast and steadying the boat from there, you can step on
the base
> of the mast almost as soon as the main sail brakes from the water and
if the
> wind is on the" wrong" side i.e. going to blow you right over again.
You can
> grab the far shroud and attempt to stop the roll.
>
>
>
> 12, Getting up on the center board , This for me is the most difficult
part
> of sailing the swift, ideas I picked up form Keith Council. (Thanks
Keith)
>
> A, Push your self DOWN as you grab the board the buoyancy in your
> jacket will tend to "pop" you out of the water..
>
>
>
> B, Pull yourself on to the center board as close to the boat as
> possible, this stops the boat from coming up and still leaving you in
the
> water (this happen to me a lot and this fixes the problem.)
>
>
>
> C, Get fit!! Lots of push ups, Keith practices in the swimming
pool
> pulling up on a diving board!!
>
>
>
> D. It is exhausting so Bram's advice is after 5 capsizes in a row
GO
> IN for a break!!
>
>
>
> E, Other guys have there own techniques ,I have tried getting in
over
> stern, when the boat is upright and you are in the water ,it works if
the
> wind is light and little or on waves ,one hand on the rudder stock the
other
> on the transom .Chris Wickham does the under the boat roll method
.Chris ??
> Ron Watt I believe goes in over the side but behind the mast (he so
good he
> never capsizes!!).
>
>
>
> 13, Drop the main as you come in shore especially a Lee shore or shore
with
> breakers, I sail off a beach which is always a lee shore and this
simple
> things has stopped me screwing up!! (Including smacking my rudder on
> submerged tree stump, very costly)
>
>
>
> !4, Clothing ,I change to a very slim life preserver by 'Jet made for
> wakeboarding it has some padding ,I put my harness over the top , that
helps
> with snags , a couples of the Musto Men had rash shirts over
everything with
> a hole of the wire hook , it look good ..Guys. IT seems to be very
important
> to reduce all the possible snag points .When sailing my Fireball 40
years
> ago we all wore thin nylon jump suits over every thing ... ideas Guys
> ..Photos???
>
>
>
> 15, Knee pads and shin guards are essential.
>
>
>
> 16.Make sure your center board and rudder will not fall out when you
are
> inverted ,very embarrassing and has happen to my twice !!! , once I
lost
> the center board and sail to shore with out it ... the wrong shore!! I
used
> the rudder to get the boat right side up (tricky) and then run off
down
> wind. I was on a large lake 15knots wind and no other boats out!! I
was
> using a smaller main and in my excitement to get out I forgot to tie
in the
> board. The other time my rudder fell out as with use the lining in the
> cassette has worn. Both are now tied in..
>
>
>
> That's enough for now, please feel free to , add , comment or trash
.I
> think I'm heading to San Diego to find some warm water and a fair
wind .......
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Paul O'Sullivan
>
> Catlin Properties
>
> 3620 Fair Oaks Blvd, Ste 150
>
> Sacramento, CA 95864
>
> (916) 485-8900 x.234
>
> (916) 599-1572 cell
>
> paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
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