We all know that to get best performance from a Twister you need to keep weight out of the stern. I was amazed when I removed the life raft and rubber dinghy from the stern last year - the stern rose by as much as an inch.
Whilst in discussion with a Member whom many would acknowledge as being one of the very best Twister skippers he mentioned that he noted that even his weight near the stern had an effect. Accordingly, when racing, he moved forward and steered using a tiller extension. Frankly, I didn't think that my 76 kg plus clothes moving just a few feet forward would have an effect.
However, with just launched boat and very clean bottom, I motored down the Hamble on a windless day in flat water. Boatspeed a steady 5.6 knots. When motoring I sit on the aft cockpit coaming with my back to a backrest rigged across the pulpit. Very comfortable.
I engaged the electric autohelm and moved forward to check the engine revs. Then sat on the bridgedeck with my feet in the companion way. Speed a steady 5.7 knots. Moved back aft, speed dropped back. Moved forward speed increased. I don't think I gained a full tenth of a knot...but there was a gain.
I am on a diet so that gives me an inentive to stick at it!
My crew has also lost a stone in weight.
I am also getting rid of my petrol outboard motor and its petrol container (I'm going electric) so that's a further weight reduction aft.
I might have to repaint the boot topping!
Awfully easy to accumulate a lot of weight aft, what with cockpit lockers and outboards mounted on pushpit. Sitting in the after corner of the cockpit just accentuates this. It'd never done on Crionna and, when racing, spare crew has been known to be sent up forward especially when on the wind.
I have vague memories of being told of one successful Stella racer whose comfortably padded wife spent many races sitting on the heads in the foc'sle.
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