Dart 15 Forums

nick wrote:

Hi everyone, i have recently been out on my dart for the first time what a buzz apart from when we got it on one hull,and on the trapeze we kept nose diving,and obviously crashing does anyone have any idea what i might be doing wrong.
many thanks nick

Steve replied:

It sounds like you where reaching, in which case you need to move further aft on your boat. But I’m sure the experts will put you right. There is an excellent teach-in early in the year for Members of the Association. Watch this space.
Steve 1910

Dartful Codger replied:

Nothing wrong with sailing on 1 hull so long as it is not too high out of the water, since you are then nearer the point of capsize and spilling a lot of wind.
The optimum angle is to get the windward hull just kissing the water or tops of the waves, so as to reduce the wetted area or drag, but generally trying to keep the mast fairly upright to get the maximum drive from the sail.
Regarding nose-diving, the Sprint/Dart 15 is a little short on front end buoyancy, so tends to nose-dive off-wind above a force five. The answer here is to move progressively to the back of the boat to keep the bows from burying as the wind increases, and when you run out of boat, then start spilling wind by easing the traveller if it isn't already full out, followed by easing the main to de-power the rig.
Hope that helps.
Paul Smith (1961 Beaver S.C.)