Skipper’s Corner
Mark Rounding
by Dave Acree
When you come out of a turn of a windward mark and a good number of the fleet are still behind you, your big effort should be getting and keeping clear wind. Read More...
When you come out of a turn of a windward mark and a good number of the fleet are still behind you, your big effort should be getting and keeping clear wind. Read More...
Mast Abeam Reverse
by Dave Acree
For those who like mast abeam, Rule 13 is the one rule you hate to see go away. Read More...
For those who like mast abeam, Rule 13 is the one rule you hate to see go away. Read More...
Light Air Sailing
By Struan Robertson
NSWRYA (Australia)
from the Miami Valley MYC Newsletter
Like most people I arrive at the lake on a sailing day hoping for that beautiful breeze. You know, somewhere in the mid-range of number one rig and just oscillating enough to make picking the right shifts interesting. Read More...
NSWRYA (Australia)
from the Miami Valley MYC Newsletter
Like most people I arrive at the lake on a sailing day hoping for that beautiful breeze. You know, somewhere in the mid-range of number one rig and just oscillating enough to make picking the right shifts interesting. Read More...
Start Wind Shadows
by Dave Acree
At the start of a race is the time where wind turbulence is the greatest. Before the ding of the starting bell, boats are circling around looking for a good starting position. All this circling of boats, cause a bunch wind shadows, and turbulence in the wind and water. Read More...
At the start of a race is the time where wind turbulence is the greatest. Before the ding of the starting bell, boats are circling around looking for a good starting position. All this circling of boats, cause a bunch wind shadows, and turbulence in the wind and water. Read More...
Irons
by Herman Kraus
Space Cost Model Sailing Club
On almost any given day down at the pond it is possible to see boats caught in irons. Being caught in irons. Being 'caught in irons' refers to a boat sitting at, or very nearly, head to wind with sails luffing and no forward motion. Left alone any boat will eventually drift out of irons with a 50-50 chance of coming out on a desired tack. Read More...
Space Cost Model Sailing Club
On almost any given day down at the pond it is possible to see boats caught in irons. Being caught in irons. Being 'caught in irons' refers to a boat sitting at, or very nearly, head to wind with sails luffing and no forward motion. Left alone any boat will eventually drift out of irons with a 50-50 chance of coming out on a desired tack. Read More...
Keep Your Receiver Dry
From the Space Coast MSC Newsletter “The Dock Line”
Ever lose control of your boat due to a wet receiver? Try this and it should help. Read More...
Ever lose control of your boat due to a wet receiver? Try this and it should help. Read More...
Main Sail Twist
From the Mesa Model Yacht Club website
In the Phoenix metro area it is not an uncommon sight to see tall sail rigs on model sailboats. This is because of the light winds which are prevalent in this area and many times you would see these rigged yachts sail away leaving the rest of the short rigged boats adrift. Read More...
In the Phoenix metro area it is not an uncommon sight to see tall sail rigs on model sailboats. This is because of the light winds which are prevalent in this area and many times you would see these rigged yachts sail away leaving the rest of the short rigged boats adrift. Read More...
Take It Easy
From The Dockline, May, 1997
Although the general principles of rigging and sail tensioning hold for all classes of boats this article is intended specifically for the Soling One Meter Class. It has been my observation that some skippers are prone to tension their sails and standing rigging much too tightly and as a result boat performance suffers greatly. Additionally, this over tensioning can result in mechanical damage to the boat and permanent deformation of the hull and or sails. What follows is a common sense approach to dealing with these problems. Read More...
Although the general principles of rigging and sail tensioning hold for all classes of boats this article is intended specifically for the Soling One Meter Class. It has been my observation that some skippers are prone to tension their sails and standing rigging much too tightly and as a result boat performance suffers greatly. Additionally, this over tensioning can result in mechanical damage to the boat and permanent deformation of the hull and or sails. What follows is a common sense approach to dealing with these problems. Read More...
Rig Selection
By Bob Stern
In this first of a five Chapters on tuning a model racing yacht, we'll look at rig selection. In the next sections are features on mast position, how to obtain proper trim to windward as well as how to alter that trim when sailing in non-optimum conditions. Read More...
In this first of a five Chapters on tuning a model racing yacht, we'll look at rig selection. In the next sections are features on mast position, how to obtain proper trim to windward as well as how to alter that trim when sailing in non-optimum conditions. Read More...
Early Starters
By Dave Acree
For this series of Sailing Tips, we are going to begin at the start of a race with one of the most common problem, over the starting line early. I am not going to talk about how not to be over the starting line early, instead what to do when you are. Read More...
For this series of Sailing Tips, we are going to begin at the start of a race with one of the most common problem, over the starting line early. I am not going to talk about how not to be over the starting line early, instead what to do when you are. Read More...
Non-Optimum Conditions
By Bob Stern
I have explained how to tune a rig when the conditions were the optimum for the rig, i.e. the boat was neither under powered or overpowered.. Now, I will attempt to explain how to set up your boat for conditions which are not ideal.
Read More...
I have explained how to tune a rig when the conditions were the optimum for the rig, i.e. the boat was neither under powered or overpowered.. Now, I will attempt to explain how to set up your boat for conditions which are not ideal.
Read More...
Hardening the Mainsheet
By Bob Stern
When you tighten the mainsheet, you will increase the heel, and decrease the forward drive. Read More...
When you tighten the mainsheet, you will increase the heel, and decrease the forward drive. Read More...
Hardening the Jib Sheet
By Bob Stern
Again the opposite situation, where the jib's drive will be decreased, while its heeling force will be increased. Read More...
Again the opposite situation, where the jib's drive will be decreased, while its heeling force will be increased. Read More...
Heavy Air Sailing - Tips and Techniques
By Glenn Dawson (From the November 1998 issue of the
Australian Radio Yachting Association Newsletter)
Sailing in very strong winds presents its own set of difficulties and challenges. Some of the techniques encountered in the discussion on light air sailing apply to heavy air as well. Often, boats are traveling at vastly different speeds in heavy air, but for different reasons than in light airs. Read More...
Sailing in very strong winds presents its own set of difficulties and challenges. Some of the techniques encountered in the discussion on light air sailing apply to heavy air as well. Often, boats are traveling at vastly different speeds in heavy air, but for different reasons than in light airs. Read More...
Mast Position
By Bob Stern
The first thing that you need to do to tune your boat, now that you have selected your rig, is to determine the proper mast position. This is also the last thing you should do, after you have the boat all trimmed out. Read More...
The first thing that you need to do to tune your boat, now that you have selected your rig, is to determine the proper mast position. This is also the last thing you should do, after you have the boat all trimmed out. Read More...
Balance Your Boat
by Herman Kraus
One of the most frequent questions heard at the pond is "why does my boat keep trying to turn all of the time?" Read More...
One of the most frequent questions heard at the pond is "why does my boat keep trying to turn all of the time?" Read More...
Wind
By Dave Acree
Wind is a body of air that is in motion relative to the surface of the earth. It is what causes the weather and without it our model yachts would not move. Read More...
Wind is a body of air that is in motion relative to the surface of the earth. It is what causes the weather and without it our model yachts would not move. Read More...
Windward Positioning
by Dave Acree
A successful strategy of sailing to the windward mark, starts with keeping a close eye on ever changing wind conditions, your position on the course and the competition on the course. Once you have decided which side is favored, all of your efforts are geared to take advantage of it. Along with finding the favored side, you next task it hold or gain your position in reference to your competition. Read More...
A successful strategy of sailing to the windward mark, starts with keeping a close eye on ever changing wind conditions, your position on the course and the competition on the course. Once you have decided which side is favored, all of your efforts are geared to take advantage of it. Along with finding the favored side, you next task it hold or gain your position in reference to your competition. Read More...
Sail Maintenance
By Dick Wischer
Always take along some rip stop tape or some good quality scotch filament tape to repair damage to your sails. Sails can get damaged in many ways. Read More...
Always take along some rip stop tape or some good quality scotch filament tape to repair damage to your sails. Sails can get damaged in many ways. Read More...
Mark Rounding
By Dave Acree
When you come out of a turn of a windward mark and a good number of the fleet are still behind you, your big effort should be getting and keeping clear wind in your sails. Read More...
When you come out of a turn of a windward mark and a good number of the fleet are still behind you, your big effort should be getting and keeping clear wind in your sails. Read More...
Living With Light Air
by Rod Carr and Rick West
East Coast 12 Meter skipper Rick West of the Delta Model Yacht Club recently took the time to write up his experiences with sailing in very light air in a fleet which was not short of top notch skippers. Read More...
East Coast 12 Meter skipper Rick West of the Delta Model Yacht Club recently took the time to write up his experiences with sailing in very light air in a fleet which was not short of top notch skippers. Read More...
Broaching
From The Dock Line, Dec. 1997
For purposes of this report a "broach" is defined as an uncontrolled turn to wind ward in response to a wind gust. Detailed explanation of the mechanics of a broach would be too lengthy for purposes of this article, therefore the following is a very simplified version. Read More...
For purposes of this report a "broach" is defined as an uncontrolled turn to wind ward in response to a wind gust. Detailed explanation of the mechanics of a broach would be too lengthy for purposes of this article, therefore the following is a very simplified version. Read More...
Seamanlike and Tactical Mark Roundings
by Dave Acree
Now we have new 1997/2000 ISAF Racing Rules, I thought it would be a good idea if we go over a few new changes. Read More...
Now we have new 1997/2000 ISAF Racing Rules, I thought it would be a good idea if we go over a few new changes. Read More...
Telling Tales
by Jim Halay, Eagle Droppings Newsletter and Miami
Valley MYC Newsletter
A step in achieving boat speed is sail trim on the water using telltales. One of the problems model boat sailors face is that we are on the shore and the boats are on the water and the physical feedback of wind speed and direction is altered by the distance. The only reliable feedback we receive from our little yachts is the visual shape of the sails and relative boat speed. If we could only see the wind. Read More...
A step in achieving boat speed is sail trim on the water using telltales. One of the problems model boat sailors face is that we are on the shore and the boats are on the water and the physical feedback of wind speed and direction is altered by the distance. The only reliable feedback we receive from our little yachts is the visual shape of the sails and relative boat speed. If we could only see the wind. Read More...
Wind and Sailing
By Dick Wischer
Without wind there is no sailing, period. The wind is your propeller, the power that makes your boat go. The best explanation is this, without wind you have no means of propulsion. Read More...
Without wind there is no sailing, period. The wind is your propeller, the power that makes your boat go. The best explanation is this, without wind you have no means of propulsion. Read More...
Sail Trim
From the Miami Valley MYC Newsletter
By way of the Eagle Dropping, April 1997
The object of trimming the sails is to give the boat a slight weather helm during steady winds. With the proper amount of weather helm the boat will head up in puffs and fall off in lulls. Read More...
By way of the Eagle Dropping, April 1997
The object of trimming the sails is to give the boat a slight weather helm during steady winds. With the proper amount of weather helm the boat will head up in puffs and fall off in lulls. Read More...