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Tacking angles........knowing how much leeway you make, therefore how much you have to visibly overlay the mark, yet slip down on to it.
Practice makes perfect. Try a few windward roundings and get your bearings as to what works. Other people may be sailing with their rigs set up differently, so suss out what their rake and rig tension is like, and their sail settings on the wind.
I've noticed the 15 makes a lot more leeway than the 18, so don't try and follow them if your on the same course.....sail fast and low in clear wind, and don't be tempted to pinch unless a last minute tack can be avoided by a few metres of slow sailing....better than tacking at the windward mark and loosing miles. I'm up with the 18's up to full trapezing winds, and their course over the ground is a good 5 degrees higher than mine (in a 15).
I go just abit further than a 90 degree corner. Experience from the previous lap is a big factor. If one side gets a lift from the lap before tack earlier to take advantage of it.
All this assumes no tide, for which big allowances are necessary.
Hi Keith. How many Dart 15s are there in Hong Kong? Whats the vintage of your boat. Can you get parts OK? How about doing an article for our magazine on sailing a dart 15 in HK?
Hi Paul,
I've not been to Grafham for some weeks as I'ver been on the circuit, but I know Simon & Tom are as pleased as punch with the boat. I'll give you a status report later in the season.
Cheers
Bob
Been busy at our annual regatta against the Hong Kong Hobie Club this weekend......first sail in a (borrowed!) 18 as well.
We whooped them, needless to say so the silverware stays with the Lantau Boat Club team yet again!
Good fun in the 18, but not enough wind.....enough to give the Hobie 16's a run for their money though.
Trouble and strife, and the bin lids are in the UK at the moment, so as I'm home alone I've got time this week to rattle the keyboard....
By the way I was 7th out of 25 boats, sailing a bit of a dog boat, so I'm still in the running having had to get used to crews and further to walk across the tramp..!!