Otter 640
My otter has a bermudian rig but I am struggling to make good speed when beating upwind the mirrors and toppers are beating me hands down. I am looking for clues on to to improve the upwind performance any ideas would be welcome? Does anyone know what the rake of the mast should be so that I can check mine?
Thanks Steven
Beating upwind- Mast Rake
Moderator: aptanet
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
I have a bermudian rigged otter, and find that I can easily beat mirrors upwind. It is hard to give a definitive answer, but here are some pointers which you may find helpful! First, i noticed a drastic improvement when i bought a new set of sails - what condition are your sails in? For efficient upwind progress, you want a fairly flat sail - this is best achieved by tightening most of the controls you have to hand - i.e. the front of the sail should be tight (using the main halyard and gooseneck), and the outhaul should be tight too. If you have an old stretched sail, then it is difficult to make a good shape to the sail for upwind sailing. Also, it is quite important to have the boat in balance - i.e. if you need to use a significant force on the tiller then you are wasting the power available. Whilst sailing, the balance is best corrected by positioning the crew - I find that you need to sit well forward and make use of the extension tiller. If the balance is really off, then you should try adjusting the angle of the mast by loosening/tightening the fore and side stays accordingly. Of course, it helps to have appropriate weight for the conditions; heavy crew for strong winds, light (or no) crew for light winds.
I'm sure that playing with the sail and mast will help - Good luck! you should have no problem to overhaul mirrors, lasers and whatever else clutters your path!
(n.b. I consider my mast to be quite racked back, but I think the only way to know if it is 'correct' is by the weight of the helm when beating)
I'm sure that playing with the sail and mast will help - Good luck! you should have no problem to overhaul mirrors, lasers and whatever else clutters your path!
(n.b. I consider my mast to be quite racked back, but I think the only way to know if it is 'correct' is by the weight of the helm when beating)
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
Justin
Thanks for your help with this, I have just replaced my sails so they are brand new and I have been flattening the sail. I will have to try the rake of the mast to see what impact that has.
Steven
Thanks for your help with this, I have just replaced my sails so they are brand new and I have been flattening the sail. I will have to try the rake of the mast to see what impact that has.
Steven
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
I'd agree with Justin. Although my Otter is gunter rig, it keeps up pretty well with Enterprises etc until planing conditions. If, however you are sailing with 2 beefy adults against light crews in Toppers etc, you may struggle.
I'd also suggest that you keep the crew weight forward and make sure the sails, even if set flat, aren't sheeted in too tight. Avoid sitting in the airdraft slot of the jib / main. Try sheeting the jib outside the shrouds.
I'd also suggest that you keep the crew weight forward and make sure the sails, even if set flat, aren't sheeted in too tight. Avoid sitting in the airdraft slot of the jib / main. Try sheeting the jib outside the shrouds.
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
Justin I have adjusted the rake to the maximum it will go forward on the current rigging this seems to have made beating upwind a lot better. However I think I may be losing some power when reaching and wonder if I should bring it back a bit.
Steven
Steven
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- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:58 am
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
Don't know about anybody else, but when I have the rake fully forward it seems to make the whole thing pitch from side to side, especially under heavy wind; I just feel I'm permanently on the edge of a capsize...
I'm still experimenting with this, so I'm watching this thread with interest.
I'm still experimenting with this, so I'm watching this thread with interest.
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
I agree with you with the mast fully forward the boat was a bit unstable but I have brought the mast back a bit and it seems to have the desired effect i.e. I was placed in a race this weekend for the first time. However the winds were very light and it was a lot of tatics so further adjustment may be required.
Re: Beating upwind- Mast Rake
I have quite a bit of rake on the mast, it took a lot of fiddling to get it right. In light winds I have to try everything to stay with some of the more modern boats but in a blow I can just about keep with lasers although I have to put in far more effort than them!