On Jun 9, 2009, at 10:15 AM, Joe McCary wrote:
I don’t know the answer to your clevis pin question and I don’t
race. But, maybe I can offer some racing tips I learned many years
ago racing.
First, racing is divided into 2 groups; those who want to go around
the buoys and have fun and those who must win. I think THE most
important “trick” you can learn is consistency. Be consistent in
steering, in how you set sails, how you sheet, and maybe the most
important be consistent in how you tack (go over too hard-fast in
light air is like applying brakes).
And the most important feature of a good captain is communication.
Tell your crew what you are doing/planning. Talk through maneuvers
and strategy. Of course the captain has to make the ultimate
decision but gather as much input as possible. And lastly, stay
calm; events on the race course can make a normally calm person fly
into a rage, but the calm skipper most times wins.
Nothing builds consistency like practice, practice, practice.
And of course sail as fast as you can. As a “Rock Star” on a boat I
was on once said, “there is nothing on a sailboat that money can’t
make the boat go faster.” But, I think invest in your planning and
practice and a clean bottom and you should, over time, improve.
Joe McCary
Aeolus II, West River, MD
joe at photoresponse.com
www.aeoluswestriver.net
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of n2imz
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [IC27A] Clevis length and racing tips
Do any of you folks know how long the masthead clevis pin to hold a
spinakker block is? I want to put a turning block in the forward
location of the masthead. The boatyard suggested I do this, rather
than installing the crane since he has seen many done just that way
with no problems. I plan to run an asymetrical cruising spinakker
from it. I see on Catalina Direct, the clevis is 5/16" in diameter,
but they do not list the length. If possible, I would like to buy a
few locally to avoid the cross country shipping charges.
Also, I have started around-the-buoys racing this season. This is
the first time for me skippering races on my own boat, only the
third season with the Catalina and the first season racing at all in
many years. I have a standard rig, with a 150rf genny. So far, we
have last place clinched. I am hoping to improve a bit as the season
progressed. Would anyone like to share any secret go-fast sail
trimmming tips with me? (I'll bet this will start a stampede!).
Thanks in advance
Matty
Alineup
'87 Catalina 27
Fair winds,
Matty, ditto on the part about not tacking to aggressively. That
rudder will turn almost flat and act like a big brake. This is
especially important if you have a wheel rather than a tiller. It's
easy to loose track of how hard over you are.
Ray Yager
SV Stars & Stripes #6354
[email protected]
