latest race results from the Abstinenz crew:

In the regatta of this week we were met with a windforce of 14-22 knots. On the first upwind leg we had about 18-22 knots of wind and we took reef one and the selftacker (sheets in second lowest hole). It looked like to be a fair decision. A Hanse 315 with full main followed us but did not poit as high. When we reached the windward mark we reefed out and off we went on a reaching course. At the next mark we should have hoist the gennaker, but for some reason did'nt  . Still in front in our group at the next mark and going upwind again the wind had dropped to about 16 knots and Absitenz tacked beautyfully with full main and the selftacker, pointing the same high as a X-43. The 315 was left behind. At the downwind leg the gennaker/asymm. did it's job in the 14-16 knots of wind and doing about 170 dg. On the last upwind leg the wind was about 14 knots dropping to about 11-12 knots halfway and here we should have used the 130 % genua. We were underpowered and a totally kevlar equipped Bianca 107 just passed us, did some clever tacks and came in 1 minut before us.

We came in second in our group and are mooving up.....

Looking back we can conclude:
The standard selftacker is performing well (but not perfect) in windscale 16 knots+, but we should probably have the sheet in the middle hole in this windforce. 

The standard hallyards for fock/genua/main must be replaced with Dyneeme quality.

Though the X-99 is not in our group we outraced one of them in pure sailing time and thats a good feeling no matter how bad/good there crew are

 

The single line reefing system is operating nicely and fast.

 

We should not have considered hoisting the gennaker on the second reaching leg. Just do it!

 

The 130% genua is the optimum head sail for the 342 in windforce 5-14 knots.

Cheers
Steen & Anne

 

 

  

         

 

Enjoy your racing.

 

Best,

Dan.

Excellent account of the race. Congrats on doing fairly well and getting better!!!

 

Steve

 

Upwind we are going about 35 dg app. wind and in waves not exceeding 1 meter and windforces 12-20 knots we shall go minimum 6,2 knots. If we are doing less we are underpowered with "canvas".

 

/Steen

 

We're finding that in some conditions we can get as high as 29 degrees AWA but more typically 30 to 32.  We're still trying to figure out the exact combination of conditions and set up that allows us to achieve our best pointing as it does not always seem to be repeatable.  The "groove" seems to be very narrow!

 

Ed

 

I am currently sailing with the two standard Nort sails, and in addition a 150% genua with medium/heavy cut in Dimentions Flex Aramid cloth, and a 93sqm APR asymmetrical both made by Doyle.

 

My next sail is probably going to be a heavy cut 108% in the same material. If anyone have any experience on sailing a 108% I would appreciate hearing from you.

when sailing upwind I find that around 30 degrees AWA gives the best VMG on my 315 with the jib. This is normally the same in different forces of wind.

When you are doing 6,2 knots, what will your VMG be?

I have raced a lot with a X-99, and when the VMG was at top, the normal speed was about 6knots.

 

Regds

Rune

 

We can easely do 30 dg. AWA but it cost too much on the speed. We did 30 dg in the beginning and was thrilled about the high pointing, but just to learn that it was a sure way to loose the race. I believe, though, that if we have 4 man on the rail we can do better pointing and obtain a good speed also. The Hanse yachts are extreemly good runners from 40 dg to 160 dg AWA and fair tackers between 32-39 dg AWA. On running legs we can easely follow both X-332 and X-99.
200 kg more in the keel and a draft of +10 to 20 cm, a better and larger jib and the 342 would point much better, but indeed it's not bad allready . 

/Steen    

it is always a question about the pointing and the speed, and where you gain most. (when going upwind)This is what the VMG tells you. When going upwind toward a mark in the wind eye the highest VMG will give you the the fastesr way to the mark (in my opinion)

This means that you can forget about the boat speed, and consentrate on the VMG. ( except for calculating the current etc...)

This is for a ideal situation with a stable wind and no wind shifts.

 

Is there something I have missed her? Or does everyone agree?

 

 

Regds

Rune

 

Hi

the VMG dispalys speed into the wind, or speed running with the wind.

It is calcultaed in different ways, but it is basically boat speed and the wind direction. The wind speed has no influence ( ecxept that the speed will drop off course) A wind shift will not affect this calculation, but a wind shift will change the target relative to the wind

Meaning that the VMG will be the same, but you are moving better or Worse towards the target ( better if you are lucky!)

 

This is normally done by all instruments. You will find the same on your GPS, but in this case the VMG is speed against the waypoint. If you put a waypoint on you target you can use this, but then calculated only by SOG and the waypoint.

Boat Speed

Depth

AWA

Apparent Wind Speed

True Wind Speed

VMG (to Wind)

VMG (to Waypoint)

Tack Heading (what our course would be on the opposite Tack)

Bearing to Waypoint (a.k.a the mark)

Distance to Waypoint

Wind Shift (degrees lifted or headed compared to average wind direction in last nn minutes)

Graph showing Wind Speed history (over a configurable period from 2 minutes to 24 hours)

Graph showing Wind Direction history (over a configurable period)

and, last but not least, tell tales on the sails. 

 

On top of this when I finally get a laptop and the associated software sorted out, we'll also have time/distance to Lay Line and a Percentage performance versus the Polars.

 

Sailing is indeed a complicated sport

 

Ed

the problem with all this information ( even if you have 10 displays) is to absorbe the info, and use it.

In the same time you have to steer the boat,trim the sails, change sails,  look for competitors, weather changes, tachtical steering, marks, instruct crews etc...... 

 

regds

RUne

 

This especially the case if you race two-handed which is what we do.

 

The helmsman focusses on Boat Speed, AWA, VMG and the tell tales as primary data points.

 

The rest of the stuff on your list is the responsibility of the other crew member.

 

Ed

 

The following might be interresting for you and maybe others.

http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/article/downwind-sailing - http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/article/downwind-sailing

 

Best regards, Willem

I'll be on the boat racing this weekend and will take some pics of the arrangement then.

 

I have heard (from the dealer) that there are some aluminum backing plates in certain places on the coach roof. If you can find out where they are they could definitely be of benefit.

 

Steve

Aluminium backingplates are monted on coachroof, see where my genoatracks for #3 is monted.

For those who are interrested se also how my german sheeting is monted. It works very well.

 

 

 

 

 

On my 370 I use genoa #1 (150%) from Quantum together with full main up till about 16 knots TWA. The #3 (108%) I can use with desent perfomance from appox 12 knots TWA and up. See pictures, too bad there are many months to next season.

 

 

Thanks for the pic. Definitely going to consider changing to something like this. I'll post my setup for the 108% afer the weekend.

 

Cheers, Steve

 

The sails are Quantum Fusion. The #1 with spectra and carbon fibres, and the #3 with spectra fibres and coted with tafettafilm on both sides.

 

We thread in the aluminiumplates. You will see the plates when removing the inner-roof. My #3 genoa-tracs are a bit longer than the aluminiumplate, so we used nuts on these bolts (2 or 3 bolts).

 

I run the sheets as with the #1 - through the lead car for #1 and up to #3 lead car.

 

The german sheeting runs to the aft winches. I'll take a picture next time I'm in the the boat and post it here.

 

 

 

You have obviously made your boat much more racefriendly! Do you use the extra upper set of lead-blocks for the genoa sheet and do you find the angle towards the forward winches sufficient? I have also added an extra set of bigger forward genoawinches (Lewmar 46AST), but I found that the angle from the standard lead-blocks where not good by far and didn't think extra upper blocks would improve the angle much. My solution became pulling the sheet directly from the standard leadcar to the winch and adding a polished stainless steelplate where the sheet touches the roof. It workes fine and the direct sheeting needs less power to pull my 140% genoa. Though, I would have prefered a more sofisticated solution, as yours.

Maybe we will meet on the south coast of Norway when the sun again climbes high and the wind fills the sails.

 

Best regards Børge - 370e/329 Ubi Bene

 

I think the genoa sheets angle towards the forward winches (Harken 40 ST) is OK, have note felt any need to try other solutions.

Regarding the german sheeting, it is indeed racingfriendly but also very cruisingfriendly. When cruising, the selftacker is sheeted on coachroof -

and with this mainsail sheeting I have full contol at any situations.

 

We'll probably meet next season.

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

A piece of advice I received from Hanse. When fixing the track to the seats drill and tap the inner fixings first. Then install the bolts and tighten down before drilling and tapping the next bolt. Repeat this until you reach the outer bolts. If you mark and drill all the holes before you start the outer holes will not line up!!

 

The track will not sit tight against the seat until all the bolts are in place.

 

Regards

 

Alan