Back to basics

I have spent the last two years learning about designs, fin and bulb angles, rigs, transmitters and all things radio sailing, and whilst it was a great learning experience I have taken my eye off the ball on the basics of my sailing.

A Marblehead meeting last weekend brought it home to me. I set the boat up with the swing rig, shut off the GISMO and just focussed on sailing. The wind was variable but reasonable in direction providing a wonderful course up and down in front of the Littleton Sailing clubhouse. No thoughts on boat setup, or idoes it look right, just total focus on the boat, sailing it fast and constantly on the look out for wind patterns, racing became fun again. If ever I felt the boat felt slow I just eased the sheet using a rotating dial so I could not over-sheet. The more I eased, the higher the boat pointed and the faster it went.

On Thursday, I did exactly the same thing with the VISS. The more I twisted of the jib and sheeted out, the faster I went. It taught me that I was sheeting to tight at Woodspring, but lesson learned. Better late than never.

With a 12th in the ranking, it is unlikely I will be in the worlds next year unless I get lucky with drop outs, but it does give me more time to help with the organisation. Don't get me wrong, I will be focussed on training and getting ready for the ranking races and nationals early next year. Need to get back into the upper echelons of IOM sailing.

As for the boat, I will focus on the VISS. I have a lot to understand about setting up the rig. The more you twist off and sheet out the faster the boat goes. You have to get used to the fact that ashore the twist looks excessive, but when the boat is on the water in wind, the twist looks right.