Pics of some fond memories.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...88888637udZpWz

I am tempted to email some of these shots to some of our old Lightning
rivals, but that would be a bit childish even for me....

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
...
Pics of some fond memories.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...88888637udZpWz

I am tempted to email some of these shots to some of our old Lightning
rivals, but that would be a bit childish even for me....

Fresh Breezes- Doug King



The Autumn Morning photo is fantastic. I'm going to print it at work
tomorrow to see how it comes out.
http://community.webshots.com/s/imag...5PWxyGu_fs.jpg


Regards


Donal
--

The Captains Master wrote:


You stayed in front with a spinnaker set like that??
Amazing!

You talking set or trim? Our sets were usually a tad slow but clean &
methodical.

Actually, the spinnaker trim is quite good, pulled in a little too close
against the forestay. The vang needs to be eased and the boat rolled
slightly to windward (most people overdo windward heel). My wife needs to
be looking up at the chute instead of down, but she is probably cleaning up
lines after the set. The forward hand needs to sit down and pay attention,
though.

You probably are looking at the pole thinking it's too high, which is a
mistake many spinnaker trimmers make. Get it UP! The curl should be up on
the shoulder, like it is here. Buddy Melges says so and I have found it
gives better speed.

You can see by the wakes that we are going a lot faster than the pack of
boats behind. This particular race I remember well because we won by miles.
Partly due to luck in opening up just as the wind freshened & shifted. The
next race we ended up with a 2nd but were OCS along with about 5 other
boats. The day finished up with a terrific thunderstorm that is still quite
a vivid memory.

Sometimes I give serious thought to getting back into racing Lightnings.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Donal wrote:


The Autumn Morning photo is fantastic. I'm going to print it at work
tomorrow to see how it comes out.
http://community.webshots.com/s/imag...5PWxyGu_fs.jpg


Thanks, Donal. My father took that picture and is quite proud of it. I'll
forward your comments, it's one of my favorites too. A 2'x2' blowup of it
hangs in our front hall.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Looks like a lot of fun. good pics!
John Cairns
"DSK" wrote in message
...
Pics of some fond memories.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...88888637udZpWz

I am tempted to email some of these shots to some of our old Lightning
rivals, but that would be a bit childish even for me....

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Captains Master wrote:


Hmm tyhe vang yes, but I was more thinking of the way the head has
closed up as the mid luff sags.

Huh? There's nothing sagging noplace! Are we looking at the same picture??

Actually I was expecting some non flattering remarks about our douse & rounding
in the next pic, it was not at all smooth or timely. But fact is we did jump two
places there so it couldn't have been too bad.... actually we usually picked up
a spot or two at leeward marks... I was bummed when they went to gates!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

John Cairns wrote:

Looks like a lot of fun. good pics!

Thanks John

DSK

Huh? There's nothing sagging noplace! Are we looking at the same picture??


The Captains Master wrote:
Yep, the one of Plummer in front of the fleet.
Head is not filled out at all which would pull that sagged luff back
in.

Nope, sorry. What you're looking at is a small curl 'way up on the shoulder of the
luff. No sag.

Lighting spinnakers (and I believe Etchells spinnakers are similar) are very full up
high. If there is any sagging in the upper part of the sail, a big crease forms down
the center, that's where the sail collapses first in too light air. One remedy is to
lower the pole but that's not a 100% sure cure.

My spinnaker techniques are not conventional, but most of the time we're among the
fastest boats off the wind. I've heard a lot of people say "your spinnaker is trimmed
wrong" as we pass them. Kind of funny........




Actually I was expecting some non flattering remarks about our douse & rounding
in the next pic, it was not at all smooth or timely. But fact is we did jump two
places there so it couldn't have been too bad.... actually we usually picked up
a spot or two at leeward marks... I was bummed when they went to gates!



Yep a good move but you've gotta watch the guys without a clue who
harded up onto you before you get around.

That's why God gave me lungs.... to shout "ROOM, DAMMIT" so loud that airports
complain about the noise.....



Etchells bows make really neat holes :-)

Yeah, that's a bummer. But it gives the crew something to do... BAIL, DAMMIT!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Captains Master wrote:


Yep, Etchells chutes are very big headed. My preferrred one the Ullman
"Fatboy runner" pretty much says it all.
We fly the pole high as possible but would definately drag it down a
bit if the luff started to look like yours...I take your point that
you were in front...beats me :-)

Well, I started trimming chutes this way after reading Buddy Melges book 'Sailing Smart.'
He talks about sail trim in a very unconventional but practical way, so far his advice
seems to work. Since then I've been eyeballing the spinnaker luff trying to get the luff
curl way up high, and carrying the pole higher than usual. I also carry the halyard looser
than other people, get the sail out in front.



My spinnaker techniques are not conventional, but most of the time we're among the
fastest boats off the wind. I've heard a lot of people say "your spinnaker is trimmed
wrong" as we pass them. Kind of funny........

Yep, I'm always being asked why we carry the pole so far back in heavy
air. "Makes the boat really unstable" but it sure is fast living on
the edge and that really is the essence.
If it works for you...so be it.

If you can keep the leach from getting too open and rolling the boat, yes.

Another thing is that people usually overdo windward heel. The usual reasoning is to get
the center of effort over the hull for 'more efficiency' but that produces lee helm and a
very uneasy ride. If the leg is DDW, I pull the CB all the way up and use just enough
windward heel to get a neutral helm.... maybe slight lee helm.

In Lasers, everybody is sailing on the windward rail and using the leach for the luff
nowadays. I have not perfected that trick, it looks strange.



Mate, lots of the time they just don't hear no matter what....and I
really do try hard to avoid punching that neat little triangle in
their side...Honest!

Hey, if you had rights and they shut the door... sometimes ya can't help it





Etchells bows make really neat holes :-)

Yeah, that's a bummer. But it gives the crew something to do... BAIL, DAMMIT!

Yep that keeps em busy.
I've seen and completed races with quite big holes in the boat.
Twin double acting pumps are a distinct advantage :-)

Wow, you have twins for crew? Cool!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

S.Simon - a sailor who has a better computer aboard than most
home users.

You do? I have a new Pentium 4 and Mac G4 for video editing. My notebook is a
new Toshiba P3.
I have a feeling my Phone is better than your computer!

Bwahahahaha!

RB