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With the sun shining on the windward side of the sail, I can't see what the leeward telltales are doing. This can also occur when on starboard, preventing the burgee from being visable at the same time.
How do people assess windflow over the leeward side in these conditions?
Also I note that the sailing rules allow a window in the sail (36" * 12"). Would telltale windows be permitted? I have in mind small triangular windows located in current telltale positions.
Gary: do you have a coloured sail? I know that I found the same problem too. With a white sail you can see through fairly easily. As far as the burgee is concerned, I haven't noticed this issue - is the stem on your flag long enough? The burgee is most useful on a run, when you should be able to see it fairly well and tell when you are running by the lee too much and are about to gybe (whether you want to or not). Windows in the sail are an interesting idea but it sounds a bit extreme and I'm not sure how many you'd be allowed. Try a bit of Jedi training and try and develop "The Force" so that you can recognise the feel of your boat when it's not quite doing it's best. A good clue to this is seeing people near you going faster! Another good way to see the burgee is to go out on the wire but that is not always convenient, or necessarily legal...
If you can't actually see the leeward tell-tale, and you think it should be flowing you can always ease the main-sheet a bit more (or alter course slightly if that is convenient) and see if the windward one starts to rise. Then just pull in a bit more or bear away until it flows. Then the leeward one should be flowing well so long as you haven't pulled in or born away too much.
If you concentrate on keeping the top & bottom windward telltales flying out horizontally & the middle windward one just lifting then the leeward teltales should all be flying horizontally. Try this with the sun on the leeward side of the sail so you know what it looks & feels like.
Robert is right in that the burgee is most useful down wind, as is the bridal wire telltale for reaching, I use both & the bridal wire telltale is often useful upwind as a secondary check that you haven't lost all concentration!
The single window was allowed for someone who was specifically worried about the view to leeward, but is not offered in any new sail (though I'm sure you could ask for it). Telltale windows are not allowed & would need a rule change if you wanted these, or your sail would be out of class (stopping you from using it at an open meeting) & loose it's value for resale.
You could try a longer burgee staff, but I have found that long staffs often result in the burgee vibrating & thus making it less useful rather than more. We can't all manage to "Feel the Force" all the time as Robert suggests, but the fast sailors do & often only refer to telltales as a secondary check.
Hope this helps!
Charles
1942, Ingrid
Halifax SWC God does not deduct from our allotted life span the time spent sailing(or talking, texting, reading, posting to websites & emailing about it)
