Hi all,
Hope you're enjoying some quality sailing.
We took part in our first ever race yesterday and came last in some style!
The winds were extremely light apart from a sudden thundery squall when I noticed we started making good ground on the others...
I've been been explaining to my family that Twisters, being heavy long keelers, clearly require more wind to win races and arent really suited to light winds... am I talking rubbish??!
Also, we really enjoyed it and want to get better - let me know if any seasoned Twister racers need a willing crew - I'd be keen to steal your tricks!
All best,
Crispin
Hi Crispin
Twisters are not slow in light airs [and depending on the handicap used can do very well] but...the bottom must be clean. The build up of the furry grunge of dead marine life clinging to the hull will slow her. Why don't Ronseal make antifouling - so it actually does what it says on the tin?
Weight is important in light airs, carry as little as you can and don't sit aft in the cockpit. Keep weight forward.
Sail trim too is important - nothing wants to be too tight. Most people have the furling genoa halyard too taught. [Those are not my words, those of a rather experienced rigger, in a rather fine boat, who kindly gave me a valuable lecture when I was alongside him.]
I've just sailed in the Channel Classics and can report that, in very light airs, Twisters held up well against other boats. Where we suffered was that the much large boats, with taller rigs, picked up more wind because the wind that there was was slightly stronger higher up. The bigger gaffers with topsails were noticeably fast.
Some years ago a very well sailed Twister won the overall Cowes Classics Regatta - all races sailed in very light airs.
Hi Peter,
You mean I have to stop lying to my children?
That's really interesting - we managed to get the top metre of gunge off, but nothing below that... we overtook two gaffers on the upwind stretch, but they destroyed us downwind...
Hmmmm... also interesting about the genoa halyard which is very tight on Bob...
Thanks!
Onwards and upwards!
Crispin
Hi Crispin,
Peter is 100% on that and ideally even the bottom of the keel should be clean too! As they say 'Every little helps'. Sailing in light airs is the most intensive and hardest skill of all. The boat needs to be trimmed and heeled right, everyone on board needs to keep quiet and be still. Don't have too much tension on halyards, kickers outhauls and sail free. It is vital to keep the boat moving. As long as she is, she will be making a little wind herself. Once you lose that momentum it's very hard to build it up again. Don't worry about making the course either. Movement, speed and control are all, plus a bit of tactics so you don't get caught in some else's wind shadow!
Good Luck, and with practice you'll up with the best of them. The Twister is capable of it.
Happy Sailing (and Racing)
John
Hi Crispin,
I did my first ever attempt last year and came last too, but its an achievement just getting around in one piece. This year though was a different story all together, 4 races and each one was a disaster. Single handed you really need to prepare. Probably right about light winds, but for slightly different reasons. When the light sails go up, spinnakers and cruising chutes you have no choice but to join them or loose them. as well as navigating and helming. Having a clean bottom works wonders. Funny old thing sailing sometimes its feels as if your out of the water and flying along. sometimes dead in the water. Takes me half a season to get back to where I was the year before.
Good Luck
Stephen
Helix
For me, in light airs, the genoa halyard will carry the weight of the sail [the luff is supported by the foil] but there will be no weight on the tack shackle. This will be on its side. I'll only apply some tension if the wind builds and the genoa looks wrong.
Another trick, in light airs, is not to slacken the topping lift so it is carrying the weight of the boom.
Both these are to increase the fullness of the sails.
Peter
For cruising I think my Genoa is 135 and it is cut higher. Ideally in light airs for racing 150 would be good and almost touching the deck would be better.
Sailing free to keep speed is right but I defiantly loose out to more modern shapes that seem to point much higher than me. Advise on this topic would be appreciated
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