Mixed results.
I tried a new main foil the last two weeks and it took a while to work out why I was going so badly. Basically the strut I built longer than the predecessor was not stigff enough and on every corner I got the wobbles and crashed. There may be other issues with the horizontal but I was so far behind I would not be able to assess.
So the Sydney International was a disaster for me. I completed a few races but as I was more than 10min behind the winner I scored the same as if I had pulled out, which I did on a couple of other occasions so as to not hold up proceedings. In the end I scored the same as Jon Emonson who did not even leave Tasmania. But I had some fun and learnt a bit more about my boat, Thats what design and development is about anyway.
So this weekend I went back a few weeks, fitted my original foil and I was more than happy with my straight line speed and the boat' handling. The rig did seem to be working well. Trouble was it blew hard and I struggled on the corners again. Forecast was 15 but the records after the race indicated 25 with bigger gusts, good practice for the Perth afternoons.
So seeing as we are packing the boats for Perth in a few days and my sore wrist was still playing up a little, I bailed out to save any damage to boat and body.
So boat is ready for Perth, I am well off pace but am looking forward to the holiday and the regatta.
Pity it looks like being the smallest Nationals in the 10 years I have been a regular.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Slow Development Process
Despite the lack of posts, which was not due to Dave's observation on Mothcast, I have been sailing, testing, modifying and making progress on Karma.
First, things have stopped breaking, so building time has been devoted to new stuff not repairs.
I have progressed well with the foil control system adding a few strings and trying some ideas borrowed from other StGeorge sailors. Height adjustment, flap adjustment etc. Its a bit of a tangle but I plan on a tidy up this week.
I also have made a new rudder foil to go on the narrow rudder previously tested with a tiny foil. Seems to have added some downwind speed.
A new centreboard is in progress to go with the high aspect main foil I built months ago.
But mostly I have been working on the rig. I had a two strut diamond system working well. But then the transport deal for Perth Nationals came up as crates rather than container so the fixed spreaders had to go at the risk of getting busted off in transit. I now have a new removable system which seems to be working even better giving good leach tension and minimum side bend. Just some fine tuning to go.
I beat the other moths in a light wind race at the Sunshine regatta, and lead one at Belmont last weekend. Sub foiling conditions is not normal moth sailing but does help with the confidence when other things are not going so well.
Sailed two days last weekend. Its time to work on fitness. I have always preferred sailing to any other form of exercise. Sore today so it must have been necessary.
Club racing at St George has been good. Nine moths most weeks with some very fast and some very ordinary. I fit in the middle somewhere. Dave is still consistantly fastest with Luka and now Andrew not far behind. There is a lot of development continuing and a lot of info exchange which raises the standard for everyone. We will have a total of 14 foilers shortly.
But at Belmont on Saturday against Dave Luka and others, Nathan won all three races.
Looking forward to Perth Nationals, never been there before! Not cheap $1300 to get boat and self there and back, plus accommodation, but the Swan has a reputation as one of the best regatta waters in the country.
First, things have stopped breaking, so building time has been devoted to new stuff not repairs.
I have progressed well with the foil control system adding a few strings and trying some ideas borrowed from other StGeorge sailors. Height adjustment, flap adjustment etc. Its a bit of a tangle but I plan on a tidy up this week.
I also have made a new rudder foil to go on the narrow rudder previously tested with a tiny foil. Seems to have added some downwind speed.
A new centreboard is in progress to go with the high aspect main foil I built months ago.
But mostly I have been working on the rig. I had a two strut diamond system working well. But then the transport deal for Perth Nationals came up as crates rather than container so the fixed spreaders had to go at the risk of getting busted off in transit. I now have a new removable system which seems to be working even better giving good leach tension and minimum side bend. Just some fine tuning to go.
I beat the other moths in a light wind race at the Sunshine regatta, and lead one at Belmont last weekend. Sub foiling conditions is not normal moth sailing but does help with the confidence when other things are not going so well.
Sailed two days last weekend. Its time to work on fitness. I have always preferred sailing to any other form of exercise. Sore today so it must have been necessary.
Club racing at St George has been good. Nine moths most weeks with some very fast and some very ordinary. I fit in the middle somewhere. Dave is still consistantly fastest with Luka and now Andrew not far behind. There is a lot of development continuing and a lot of info exchange which raises the standard for everyone. We will have a total of 14 foilers shortly.
But at Belmont on Saturday against Dave Luka and others, Nathan won all three races.
Looking forward to Perth Nationals, never been there before! Not cheap $1300 to get boat and self there and back, plus accommodation, but the Swan has a reputation as one of the best regatta waters in the country.
Monday, September 14, 2009
sailing again at last
Back to St George for a casual warm up before next week's first race.The new Gemmell sail on the unstayed mast looks good but I did have some issues with the foils and controls. Photos shows the new long leach profile.
Boat in background is Bruce Gault's 16ft moth on steroids, inadvertant finger in bottom of view is shielding Dave's new secrets from early release, well his boat was there anyway.
Regardless KARMA appeared to go pretty well upwind compared to Dave, Luka and Lea and might be OK downwind too once I sort out a few wand issues.
I ended up breaking the 230g gantry so I guess it was just too light. Clive was kind enough to give me some short peices of 15mm CST pultrusion for the repairs. Already glued together.
I had problems with tacks and gybes, mostly due to me learning new techniques with aft mainsheet and swinging the tiller extension forward not aft, but also because the tiny rudder foil I was trying kept stalling out when the boat lost speed. Back to the std Illet rudder foil next week.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Congratulations Bora!!
The WC is over and a worthy Champ determined. It took a couple of years of deep commitment in time, money, travel, training and learning and was a well deserved win. Some basic skills and instinct must have helped. And he is a pretty decent guy too.
It was also a triumph for the organisers, the sailors who seemed to have a great time and the reporters and publicists who kept the rest of us around the world very well informed.
So what's come out of it so far as seen from the opposite side of the world? (all based on interviews and blogs already posted on IMCA site, event site or SA.
1. The Mach 2 has proven the fastest production moth. Even the skills of Nathan could not bring the BR up to Bora's pace.
2. AMAC is obviously the top moth designer and he seems very content with his latest product. Expect only very subtle development for a while from him.
3. Rohan has implied that a very different Bladerider will be at Dubai next year.
4. Rohan is again working on a promo circuit with about 10 boats travelling the globe for high profile sponsored events.
5. The US has quickly reached strength in the class both in numbers and in quality. This has to be good for the Moth class and can only continue to expand.
6. There were a few significant breakages amonst top contenders.
* Rohan's VRX hull split before the WC but we are advised it was a preproduction version and all subsequent boats coped well. I understand that the other preprod boat which Nathan sailed also broke when it was much newer.
* Scott and maybe 2 others broke Mach2 wings but I do not know if the failures were similaror the causes.
* Scott also broke a CST nano mast which was a bit unfortunate as CST was the major sponsor.
7. WC in 2012 after Dubai and Blemont looks like being Gara again. I will have to go this time.
8. The new Assasin appaeared, but had a tough task in the quality fleet. With new mothies on board and some prototype and test foils they got around mostly mid to back fleet but the testing will undoubtably prove most valuable when they get their new foil molds into production.
It was nice to hear Bora acknowledge all his helpers, parents, Bear, Clean, AMAC, etc but also Dave Lister who he accepted as the fastest man downwind at Geelong. Its good to know that we midfleeters still have a high standard to aim at in our St George club races for the season about to kick off.
It was also a triumph for the organisers, the sailors who seemed to have a great time and the reporters and publicists who kept the rest of us around the world very well informed.
So what's come out of it so far as seen from the opposite side of the world? (all based on interviews and blogs already posted on IMCA site, event site or SA.
1. The Mach 2 has proven the fastest production moth. Even the skills of Nathan could not bring the BR up to Bora's pace.
2. AMAC is obviously the top moth designer and he seems very content with his latest product. Expect only very subtle development for a while from him.
3. Rohan has implied that a very different Bladerider will be at Dubai next year.
4. Rohan is again working on a promo circuit with about 10 boats travelling the globe for high profile sponsored events.
5. The US has quickly reached strength in the class both in numbers and in quality. This has to be good for the Moth class and can only continue to expand.
6. There were a few significant breakages amonst top contenders.
* Rohan's VRX hull split before the WC but we are advised it was a preproduction version and all subsequent boats coped well. I understand that the other preprod boat which Nathan sailed also broke when it was much newer.
* Scott and maybe 2 others broke Mach2 wings but I do not know if the failures were similaror the causes.
* Scott also broke a CST nano mast which was a bit unfortunate as CST was the major sponsor.
7. WC in 2012 after Dubai and Blemont looks like being Gara again. I will have to go this time.
8. The new Assasin appaeared, but had a tough task in the quality fleet. With new mothies on board and some prototype and test foils they got around mostly mid to back fleet but the testing will undoubtably prove most valuable when they get their new foil molds into production.
It was nice to hear Bora acknowledge all his helpers, parents, Bear, Clean, AMAC, etc but also Dave Lister who he accepted as the fastest man downwind at Geelong. Its good to know that we midfleeters still have a high standard to aim at in our St George club races for the season about to kick off.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Big Wind WC
The US Gorge worlds are past half way and its been mostly big winds and fast sailing. Its starting to take a toll on the boats so before the damage makes too much impact on he score sheet here is a little analysis.
At least the Australians are putting on a good show.
It appears the top two in Bora and Nathan have a slight edge, winning most of the races. The next bunch of five (Arnaud, Dalton Bergan, Simon, Rohan and Scott) also seem to have a speed edge on the rest. Thats 5 M2 and two BR VRX all new since Geelong, but including a similar cast of top sailors.
The similarity at the top between the Gorge fleet and the Geelong fleet should be expected. Because at Geelong we not only had the best AUS mothies but also Bora, Simon, Arnaud and other OS visitors.
In fact the top 9 from day 3 at the Gorge include 6 of the top 11 from Geelong. Mark Robbo was in that 11 as well but is back at 13 so far at the Gorge. Of course Rohan and AMAC skipped Geelong but are also putting on a good show, lying 6th and 10th. No wonder people commented that Geelong was like a mini WC.
The breakage rate is unfortunate. I thought we had some big winds at Geelong but maybe the water was flatter. Regardless there was only one DNF/DNC in the top 10 from 10 races while already there are 5 from the Gorge also from 10 races. Maybe the new boats are still a bit tender but I am sure the lessons learned here will make them better.
What is very good is the big numbers of US sailors who have taken to moths and also the high standards they have brought with them. Its like the elete of US dinghy racing. I hope they stay with us and make the trip to Belmont in 2011.
Its been great to wake up each morning, log on and get instant results, video clips and comments from the site. Extremely well done to all concerned, I hope we can do as well at Belmont.
We will at least have a great viewing platform for the spectators, The top deck at B16s is very welcoming.
Its going to be an interesting last two days. Nathan and Bora are close and seemingly clear of the field. Nathan has a good record at the end of regattas but Bora seems to have a slight speed edge downwind at times.
They all do at least seem to be having a good time and the reports of all digging in to help repair boats and supply spares indicates that the traditional Moth class culture remains at this high level and between people of many countries. Great to see.
Thanks for the show guys and good luck for the remainder of the regatta, enjoy it.
At least the Australians are putting on a good show.
It appears the top two in Bora and Nathan have a slight edge, winning most of the races. The next bunch of five (Arnaud, Dalton Bergan, Simon, Rohan and Scott) also seem to have a speed edge on the rest. Thats 5 M2 and two BR VRX all new since Geelong, but including a similar cast of top sailors.
The similarity at the top between the Gorge fleet and the Geelong fleet should be expected. Because at Geelong we not only had the best AUS mothies but also Bora, Simon, Arnaud and other OS visitors.
In fact the top 9 from day 3 at the Gorge include 6 of the top 11 from Geelong. Mark Robbo was in that 11 as well but is back at 13 so far at the Gorge. Of course Rohan and AMAC skipped Geelong but are also putting on a good show, lying 6th and 10th. No wonder people commented that Geelong was like a mini WC.
The breakage rate is unfortunate. I thought we had some big winds at Geelong but maybe the water was flatter. Regardless there was only one DNF/DNC in the top 10 from 10 races while already there are 5 from the Gorge also from 10 races. Maybe the new boats are still a bit tender but I am sure the lessons learned here will make them better.
What is very good is the big numbers of US sailors who have taken to moths and also the high standards they have brought with them. Its like the elete of US dinghy racing. I hope they stay with us and make the trip to Belmont in 2011.
Its been great to wake up each morning, log on and get instant results, video clips and comments from the site. Extremely well done to all concerned, I hope we can do as well at Belmont.
We will at least have a great viewing platform for the spectators, The top deck at B16s is very welcoming.
Its going to be an interesting last two days. Nathan and Bora are close and seemingly clear of the field. Nathan has a good record at the end of regattas but Bora seems to have a slight speed edge downwind at times.
They all do at least seem to be having a good time and the reports of all digging in to help repair boats and supply spares indicates that the traditional Moth class culture remains at this high level and between people of many countries. Great to see.
Thanks for the show guys and good luck for the remainder of the regatta, enjoy it.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Karma, Whats working and whats not.
Karma has been sailed a few times and is now staying in one piece so I have had time to reflect on what has worked and what maybe needs some redesign or reconsideration. There are so many things on this boat which are diferent to most modern moths its worth considering some components separately, even if many are intendended to function as a complete package. I am not a follower in design terms and the freedom to experiment a bit off to left field is one of the reasons I am interested in this class.
So the list:
Hull: The freeboard is lower than any other modern skiff. The bow height is a little less than Bladerider and the stern is a lot less. But it works. There is enough volume to float everything, and because the aft wing has been brought forward, there is still heaps of volune aft. No Hobiecat like stern overs likely. The Hungry Tiger shape proved one of the best in the light over Easter, so performance when the hul is in the water should be up to standerd. Its light too.Tick.
Elevated wings and tramp. Not new, seen on Greg K's boat at 2000 WC, plus Sideshow Bob, Fuzzy Logic, Chainsaw and of course all the 14ft qnd 16ft Hobiecats. Its very comfortable in the light, but needs some foot holds which I have done with half pool noodles in pockets. I have not felt discouraged even when a lot of other things were not going well. The wing spacing is only 1.65m so its reduced the windage of the wings, tramp and the hull/tramp interface is not even there. I broke the first set of elevating struts, and build a better set, adding only a little weight. The boat is remarkable smooth and quiet when flying, which must in part be due to the windage reduction. Tick
Tapered foil tops. Also on B2 but I did not copy, see photos here late last year. This is a great idea, BR owners would miss their rubber mallet, the foils go in so simply, lock in place and need only a small pin to prevent them falling out. The fin and rudder box are smaller and lighter and the verticals will be too when I make some better ones. Tick.
Reversed Bellcrank and tesnion wand linkage. Marty Johnston had this first, but I have simplified it as best I can. The bellcrank is on the hull aft of the fin. So tesion in the wand linkage pushes the flap down. The bungee pulls the bellcrank back directly which also pulls the flap up and the wand down. The linkage between wand and bellcrank is a 1mm spectra kite string. Light, simple, flexible. It has taken me a lot of trimming to work out settings and where the adjustment needed to be. It now has a model yacht rigging screw in the linkage for fine trim. Bungee tension is adjustable via a contol line and needed to be increased as trimming processed. Happy so far. I have to get it right as the top of the fin and case is too small to insert a regular bellcrank anyway. Maybe a smaller tick for this one.
Removable Tees. I have had the rudder foil removable since last year, sailed the nationals with one and seem to have got it sorted. But the main foil Tee is another matter. I have rebuilt it a few times but for now I have given up and glued it together with a much more substantial molded Tee. Its seems very hard to get a decenet size T section and a strong enough receiveing case inside the small vertical section. I will have another go later after I sort out a few more issues and get the boat completing races on pace. Cross.
Aft mainsheet. Becaue there is no deck to mount a central sheeting system and the front wing is too close to the mast, the aft wing is the only place left. Not new, Lea Sitja, Charlie Mckee, and Martin Cross all use it. I just took a while to sort it out. Purchase, ratchet block location, sheet length all played with, but coming good. I do know that when its wrong its aweful. I have to get it sorted, no tick just yet.
Tiny Gantry. The pundits all said it was flimsey. Its a little shorter than the max 500mm at 350mm because the transom is so small I could not get decent angles at full length. Its made from 10mm tube pultrusions and weighs 260g. I have had some big crashes in the first few weeks and no signs of cracks or groans so far. Still a tentative tick.
Layout. Compared to Hungry Tiger the mast is forward 100mm at 900, and the fincase is forward 200mm which is also why I could shorten the gantry and maintain appropriate foil spacing. Although I have yet to be happy with the rig/sail combo, I think the helm is right. Neutral when healed to windward but still not excessive weather helm when low riding. All good, Tick.
Now the really big one: Unstayed rig. The mast is max length and made from a CST M354 40mm spar with some 50 and 55mm sleaves from the base almost up to the spreaders. It is strong enough to stay up without any rigging, but is too soft. I have also sailed it with either: 3 stays with spreaders, forward raked diamonds, and with the diamonds plus a forestay. In none of these configurations can I get the mast to match the luff curve of the KA MSL13 which I bought for the boat and to use on the old boat at the Nationals. Also because the mast is stepped quite upright with little rake, plus max length, the sail is set very high.
So I need either a new sail made for the present mast in one of the three configurations listed, or I need a new mast to rig more conventionally to match the KA sail. Since I just sold a boat I might splash out and do both. The stayed KA rig would allow me to sort out what esle works well and what does not, and also be the right stuff when there is good winds. The unstayed mast with a new sail could be much higher aspect ratio as the leach could easilly be a half metre longer, and that combined with the ability to square the rig would be a big advantage in light winds, especially for a heavyweight skipper.
So another tentative Tick with a lot more development to come.
Overall I am happy with progress so far. More ticks than crosses! The boat is very light, maybe close to a M2 or VRX but at only 1/4 the cost so far. Its noticable most when carrying it out on its side to deep water. Balance point is the (high) boom, rather than the toestraps as on the old boat.
Working on two rigs will delay my other plans which was to be a full solid wing rig. This was one incentive for the unstayed configuration of the whole boat. We will see what time is left this year.
The fact the boat is far from fully developped and reliable means that I will not be going to the Gorge as I had once planned. But Perth in January seems a good alternative and I hope to have it racing well by then.
On the list of new stuff are new foils, new tampoline to replace my amateur sewing, plus sail and mast. I have a new main foil under way, and will make a new small aft foil based on Andrew's new one. A new mold for the vericals is needed, slight reduction in width like the M2 plus a better section. Plug carving first. Soon.
And of course I need to learn to sail it fast, practice? Not over winter, I feel the cold too much at my age.
So the list:
Hull: The freeboard is lower than any other modern skiff. The bow height is a little less than Bladerider and the stern is a lot less. But it works. There is enough volume to float everything, and because the aft wing has been brought forward, there is still heaps of volune aft. No Hobiecat like stern overs likely. The Hungry Tiger shape proved one of the best in the light over Easter, so performance when the hul is in the water should be up to standerd. Its light too.Tick.
Elevated wings and tramp. Not new, seen on Greg K's boat at 2000 WC, plus Sideshow Bob, Fuzzy Logic, Chainsaw and of course all the 14ft qnd 16ft Hobiecats. Its very comfortable in the light, but needs some foot holds which I have done with half pool noodles in pockets. I have not felt discouraged even when a lot of other things were not going well. The wing spacing is only 1.65m so its reduced the windage of the wings, tramp and the hull/tramp interface is not even there. I broke the first set of elevating struts, and build a better set, adding only a little weight. The boat is remarkable smooth and quiet when flying, which must in part be due to the windage reduction. Tick
Tapered foil tops. Also on B2 but I did not copy, see photos here late last year. This is a great idea, BR owners would miss their rubber mallet, the foils go in so simply, lock in place and need only a small pin to prevent them falling out. The fin and rudder box are smaller and lighter and the verticals will be too when I make some better ones. Tick.
Reversed Bellcrank and tesnion wand linkage. Marty Johnston had this first, but I have simplified it as best I can. The bellcrank is on the hull aft of the fin. So tesion in the wand linkage pushes the flap down. The bungee pulls the bellcrank back directly which also pulls the flap up and the wand down. The linkage between wand and bellcrank is a 1mm spectra kite string. Light, simple, flexible. It has taken me a lot of trimming to work out settings and where the adjustment needed to be. It now has a model yacht rigging screw in the linkage for fine trim. Bungee tension is adjustable via a contol line and needed to be increased as trimming processed. Happy so far. I have to get it right as the top of the fin and case is too small to insert a regular bellcrank anyway. Maybe a smaller tick for this one.
Removable Tees. I have had the rudder foil removable since last year, sailed the nationals with one and seem to have got it sorted. But the main foil Tee is another matter. I have rebuilt it a few times but for now I have given up and glued it together with a much more substantial molded Tee. Its seems very hard to get a decenet size T section and a strong enough receiveing case inside the small vertical section. I will have another go later after I sort out a few more issues and get the boat completing races on pace. Cross.
Aft mainsheet. Becaue there is no deck to mount a central sheeting system and the front wing is too close to the mast, the aft wing is the only place left. Not new, Lea Sitja, Charlie Mckee, and Martin Cross all use it. I just took a while to sort it out. Purchase, ratchet block location, sheet length all played with, but coming good. I do know that when its wrong its aweful. I have to get it sorted, no tick just yet.
Tiny Gantry. The pundits all said it was flimsey. Its a little shorter than the max 500mm at 350mm because the transom is so small I could not get decent angles at full length. Its made from 10mm tube pultrusions and weighs 260g. I have had some big crashes in the first few weeks and no signs of cracks or groans so far. Still a tentative tick.
Layout. Compared to Hungry Tiger the mast is forward 100mm at 900, and the fincase is forward 200mm which is also why I could shorten the gantry and maintain appropriate foil spacing. Although I have yet to be happy with the rig/sail combo, I think the helm is right. Neutral when healed to windward but still not excessive weather helm when low riding. All good, Tick.
Now the really big one: Unstayed rig. The mast is max length and made from a CST M354 40mm spar with some 50 and 55mm sleaves from the base almost up to the spreaders. It is strong enough to stay up without any rigging, but is too soft. I have also sailed it with either: 3 stays with spreaders, forward raked diamonds, and with the diamonds plus a forestay. In none of these configurations can I get the mast to match the luff curve of the KA MSL13 which I bought for the boat and to use on the old boat at the Nationals. Also because the mast is stepped quite upright with little rake, plus max length, the sail is set very high.
So I need either a new sail made for the present mast in one of the three configurations listed, or I need a new mast to rig more conventionally to match the KA sail. Since I just sold a boat I might splash out and do both. The stayed KA rig would allow me to sort out what esle works well and what does not, and also be the right stuff when there is good winds. The unstayed mast with a new sail could be much higher aspect ratio as the leach could easilly be a half metre longer, and that combined with the ability to square the rig would be a big advantage in light winds, especially for a heavyweight skipper.
So another tentative Tick with a lot more development to come.
Overall I am happy with progress so far. More ticks than crosses! The boat is very light, maybe close to a M2 or VRX but at only 1/4 the cost so far. Its noticable most when carrying it out on its side to deep water. Balance point is the (high) boom, rather than the toestraps as on the old boat.
Working on two rigs will delay my other plans which was to be a full solid wing rig. This was one incentive for the unstayed configuration of the whole boat. We will see what time is left this year.
The fact the boat is far from fully developped and reliable means that I will not be going to the Gorge as I had once planned. But Perth in January seems a good alternative and I hope to have it racing well by then.
On the list of new stuff are new foils, new tampoline to replace my amateur sewing, plus sail and mast. I have a new main foil under way, and will make a new small aft foil based on Andrew's new one. A new mold for the vericals is needed, slight reduction in width like the M2 plus a better section. Plug carving first. Soon.
And of course I need to learn to sail it fast, practice? Not over winter, I feel the cold too much at my age.
Monday, April 27, 2009
End of season
We had the last race at St George on Saturday, Dave won as usual but the gusty westerly was a good finale.
Since I sold Tiger on a Chain last week, I am now back to development work on Karma. I had some issues with the flap mechanism, mainsheet and mast bend, but I am happy to have spent a considerable time on the water without breaking a thing. So with the hope that the structural issues are over for now, I get to work on the refinements needed to these systems at least for a start.
The unstayed mast now has diamond struts equal to regular spreaders and although it was bending a bit more than needed for adequate leach tension, it felt secure and stable and gave me confidnece that it will make the grade with a bit more work. I will add a forestay next week so it will be rigged much like the canoe, except the mast is about half the diameter.
The weekend before I tried regular stays and forestay with normal length spreaders and prod. I found that the friction in the mast step/bearing was excesive under the staying loads and the rig did not rotate freely enough for comfort. I also broke the main foil T, so last week saw a T rebuild, discarding the removable T insert and building in a more substantial structure.
We have 4 races at the Balmoral winter series in May so I get a few more tests of the boat before a winter break. Hopefully enough to decide what systems will be viable for next season. Will probably get a purpose made sail for the rig over the winter as the mast bend profile does not match the KA very well.
Still no good photos of Karma, wait for some reasonable sailing performance before its worthwhile.
Since I sold Tiger on a Chain last week, I am now back to development work on Karma. I had some issues with the flap mechanism, mainsheet and mast bend, but I am happy to have spent a considerable time on the water without breaking a thing. So with the hope that the structural issues are over for now, I get to work on the refinements needed to these systems at least for a start.
The unstayed mast now has diamond struts equal to regular spreaders and although it was bending a bit more than needed for adequate leach tension, it felt secure and stable and gave me confidnece that it will make the grade with a bit more work. I will add a forestay next week so it will be rigged much like the canoe, except the mast is about half the diameter.
The weekend before I tried regular stays and forestay with normal length spreaders and prod. I found that the friction in the mast step/bearing was excesive under the staying loads and the rig did not rotate freely enough for comfort. I also broke the main foil T, so last week saw a T rebuild, discarding the removable T insert and building in a more substantial structure.
We have 4 races at the Balmoral winter series in May so I get a few more tests of the boat before a winter break. Hopefully enough to decide what systems will be viable for next season. Will probably get a purpose made sail for the rig over the winter as the mast bend profile does not match the KA very well.
Still no good photos of Karma, wait for some reasonable sailing performance before its worthwhile.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
When should we sail?
Last week I expressed my disapointment in getting only 2 race results and no series from 3 days of saling. I upset a few people in the process, but in the end I did get some concessions that we should have had some results from Friday and Sunday afternoon.
Along with the things we disagree upon, we agreed that the requirement for 5 races over NSW easter is optimisic and that plus, some debate about what winds we should sail in, has Scott and I as IMCA aust, preparing a regatta guidelines document to hopefully get a result in future if the wind is less than co operative.
Here comes the controverial bit.
John McAteer with his legal memory recalls an IMCA Aust decision that 3kts is the minimum we should sail in. Meanwhile the guidlines prepared for Weymouth Worlds last year specified a 5kt minimum. There was obvious feeling amoungst the sailors last week and on the blogs this week that some do not enjoy light weather. They include many who have joined the moth fleet due to the attraction of foiling, but also some who have been around longer. My personal feeling is that if the wind is consistant enough in direction for a course to be set and for the leaders to complete one lap within the time imit, then racing should be on.
I have lobbied to resist the raising of the minimum wind limit, and similarly the lowering of the max limit.
On that note a significant part of both the 2005 WC at Black Rock and the 2008 WC at Weymouth were lost when the Race Committee decided there would be no sailing when at least some of the time there were sailors who considered racing should have been on.
If we continue to compress these limits we will restrict the locations where moth sailing is viable and restrict the market of potential moth sailors. Why go to a class and a regatta if most of the time is spent waiting for ideal conditions.
While some lightweights might lobby for a 8kts min so they can foil in all races, with the same logic, equity would require a 12kt limit so the +80kg saiors can foil as well. There is no point chasing that one. So if we have a limit which requires some people to sail off foils we should have a limit which requires all to sail off foils.
Sailing off the foils should continue to be part of mothing. Just as sailing in 25kts and waves should remain.
At present we propose to include the (JMAC) Aust limits, Scott's first draft of wording is:
No racing when gusts exceed 25 knots for 30 seconds, and any gusts over 30 knots; no races to be started in under 3 knots; and racing shall be abandoned when winds drop below 2 knots for over 5 minutes.
Just how these are measured and assessed can also be debated.
I would also like to change the number of races required for short series, ie 2 or 3 days like Easter. 4 should be enough. And we should also give the Race Committee some help in deciding when a race should be shortenned, (maybe after 40 minutes for one lap of a two lapper, and 65minutes for 2 laps of a three lapper), based on the 90 minute time limit (and if that should be reduced?), when a shorter course should be used (obvious light winds and to keep racing close to launching area) and when a race should be abandonned.
The other thing which came out of the weekend was that the new boats which are obviously superior at foiling were no better than the old boats when not foiling. Also Pete was only slightly quicker with no foils than equivalent boats with foils.
Before foils, moths were amounst the fastest boats in light winds. Now we are by far the fastest small boat in moderate to high winds but the edge in light winds is no longer obvious.
So If we decide to to continue racing in light winds we have an obvious opportunity to consider what improvemnets can be made to modern moth design to improve light wind speed without affecting foiling performance.
Development should never end.
Along with the things we disagree upon, we agreed that the requirement for 5 races over NSW easter is optimisic and that plus, some debate about what winds we should sail in, has Scott and I as IMCA aust, preparing a regatta guidelines document to hopefully get a result in future if the wind is less than co operative.
Here comes the controverial bit.
John McAteer with his legal memory recalls an IMCA Aust decision that 3kts is the minimum we should sail in. Meanwhile the guidlines prepared for Weymouth Worlds last year specified a 5kt minimum. There was obvious feeling amoungst the sailors last week and on the blogs this week that some do not enjoy light weather. They include many who have joined the moth fleet due to the attraction of foiling, but also some who have been around longer. My personal feeling is that if the wind is consistant enough in direction for a course to be set and for the leaders to complete one lap within the time imit, then racing should be on.
I have lobbied to resist the raising of the minimum wind limit, and similarly the lowering of the max limit.
On that note a significant part of both the 2005 WC at Black Rock and the 2008 WC at Weymouth were lost when the Race Committee decided there would be no sailing when at least some of the time there were sailors who considered racing should have been on.
If we continue to compress these limits we will restrict the locations where moth sailing is viable and restrict the market of potential moth sailors. Why go to a class and a regatta if most of the time is spent waiting for ideal conditions.
While some lightweights might lobby for a 8kts min so they can foil in all races, with the same logic, equity would require a 12kt limit so the +80kg saiors can foil as well. There is no point chasing that one. So if we have a limit which requires some people to sail off foils we should have a limit which requires all to sail off foils.
Sailing off the foils should continue to be part of mothing. Just as sailing in 25kts and waves should remain.
At present we propose to include the (JMAC) Aust limits, Scott's first draft of wording is:
No racing when gusts exceed 25 knots for 30 seconds, and any gusts over 30 knots; no races to be started in under 3 knots; and racing shall be abandoned when winds drop below 2 knots for over 5 minutes.
Just how these are measured and assessed can also be debated.
I would also like to change the number of races required for short series, ie 2 or 3 days like Easter. 4 should be enough. And we should also give the Race Committee some help in deciding when a race should be shortenned, (maybe after 40 minutes for one lap of a two lapper, and 65minutes for 2 laps of a three lapper), based on the 90 minute time limit (and if that should be reduced?), when a shorter course should be used (obvious light winds and to keep racing close to launching area) and when a race should be abandonned.
The other thing which came out of the weekend was that the new boats which are obviously superior at foiling were no better than the old boats when not foiling. Also Pete was only slightly quicker with no foils than equivalent boats with foils.
Before foils, moths were amounst the fastest boats in light winds. Now we are by far the fastest small boat in moderate to high winds but the edge in light winds is no longer obvious.
So If we decide to to continue racing in light winds we have an obvious opportunity to consider what improvemnets can be made to modern moth design to improve light wind speed without affecting foiling performance.
Development should never end.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Stuffed up weekend
We spent three days at Woolahra SC waiting for racing, watching other people sail and got three starts and 2 finishes out of an 8 race schedule. So there is no NSW champion for 2009 because 5 races were required.
Yes there were long periods when the wind was too light or variable for the SC to set a course but there were other times like all of this afternoon when there was raceable winds but where we did not get to race.
Admittedly there was never enough wind for foiling even for the lightweights, but there was enough for the 12ft skiffs to get more races than we had. But thats sailing and that easter in NSW. Its almost always a light wind series. I have been doing easter regattas in a lot of classes since about 1967 and have never before lost a regatta result because insufficient races were completed.
For those who would rather be foiling the whole race maybe easter is the wrong regatta for them. For those of us who do best in the light winds we feel like we were robbed of a good result by a less than enthusiastic race committee.
For what its worth this is what happened on the track.
Friday, AP till some wind came at 3.00, Race got underway at 4.00 with half the fleet unable to make the start due to not being ready to launch when AP was dropped and getting stuck in a hole on the way out.
Consistant 5-8kts and Pete Harney lead in his Hungry Tiger with old style centreboard and rudder, ie no foils. I was 2nd just ahead of a chasing bunch of light weights.
Late arrivals expressed angst to RC who responded by hoising N. Too late for resail in fading wind, day and two races lost. Pete and I protested arguing race should have been shortened not abandonned, we lost .
Saturday: Missed last of early morning westerly at scheduled 10.00 start so waited again till 3.00. Got one 2 lap race in 5kts NE. Scott won from Nathan, Pete was about 4th. I was 6th. No time for another race. Would have been if the race was shortened to one lap.
Sunday, This time we went out and got the early westerly at 10.00. But then we gaot went home as it dies a little and then came back again long enough to have another start. Probably not enough for a whole race but all together there was enough for a couple of one lappers.
Pete won , I substituted my old CB for main foil and slid home 4th, Scott, Nathan and other stars were behind.
We waited till 1.00 when the NE came back and the RC decided he could not get three races in before 4.00 so canned everything. Pack up, two races only No result.
But at least I was 4th on the card after 2 for what little it matters.
a lille pissed off.
Yes there were long periods when the wind was too light or variable for the SC to set a course but there were other times like all of this afternoon when there was raceable winds but where we did not get to race.
Admittedly there was never enough wind for foiling even for the lightweights, but there was enough for the 12ft skiffs to get more races than we had. But thats sailing and that easter in NSW. Its almost always a light wind series. I have been doing easter regattas in a lot of classes since about 1967 and have never before lost a regatta result because insufficient races were completed.
For those who would rather be foiling the whole race maybe easter is the wrong regatta for them. For those of us who do best in the light winds we feel like we were robbed of a good result by a less than enthusiastic race committee.
For what its worth this is what happened on the track.
Friday, AP till some wind came at 3.00, Race got underway at 4.00 with half the fleet unable to make the start due to not being ready to launch when AP was dropped and getting stuck in a hole on the way out.
Consistant 5-8kts and Pete Harney lead in his Hungry Tiger with old style centreboard and rudder, ie no foils. I was 2nd just ahead of a chasing bunch of light weights.
Late arrivals expressed angst to RC who responded by hoising N. Too late for resail in fading wind, day and two races lost. Pete and I protested arguing race should have been shortened not abandonned, we lost .
Saturday: Missed last of early morning westerly at scheduled 10.00 start so waited again till 3.00. Got one 2 lap race in 5kts NE. Scott won from Nathan, Pete was about 4th. I was 6th. No time for another race. Would have been if the race was shortened to one lap.
Sunday, This time we went out and got the early westerly at 10.00. But then we gaot went home as it dies a little and then came back again long enough to have another start. Probably not enough for a whole race but all together there was enough for a couple of one lappers.
Pete won , I substituted my old CB for main foil and slid home 4th, Scott, Nathan and other stars were behind.
We waited till 1.00 when the NE came back and the RC decided he could not get three races in before 4.00 so canned everything. Pack up, two races only No result.
But at least I was 4th on the card after 2 for what little it matters.
a lille pissed off.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Ready for NSW Champs
After the last sail of Karma showing up a few faults I decided that it was best to stick with Tiger for the easter state championships So I have spent some time checking and preparing the old boat for the event. Meanwhile I have decided to change a few details on Karma which have put it out of service for a few days, so no more testing till after easter.
But Tiger is looking good. I have fine sanded the foils and fixed some slop in the twist tiller mechanism.
Raced Tiger last week in a solid 20kt southerly, and had a good race with Steve and Andrew, staying within one swim or a couple of minutes all the way around. Great rides too.
Easter in NSW is traditionally light, rainy and or fresh. This year the forecast looks like some drizzle with 10kts Friday, less on sunday and hopefully a 12-15 NE on Sunday. Monday we get to watch the 12s who's event goes for 4 days. Should be good enough, with my drift conditions most likely on saturday.
There should be a couple of new Mach2s arriving today for Scott and Robbo, so we will see how good te production boats loook and go. AMAC promises to be here too with the #1 Geelong boat.
Not sure about Bladerider presence. Only know of John Harris but he has not raced moths since Geelong.
But Tiger is looking good. I have fine sanded the foils and fixed some slop in the twist tiller mechanism.
Raced Tiger last week in a solid 20kt southerly, and had a good race with Steve and Andrew, staying within one swim or a couple of minutes all the way around. Great rides too.
Easter in NSW is traditionally light, rainy and or fresh. This year the forecast looks like some drizzle with 10kts Friday, less on sunday and hopefully a 12-15 NE on Sunday. Monday we get to watch the 12s who's event goes for 4 days. Should be good enough, with my drift conditions most likely on saturday.
There should be a couple of new Mach2s arriving today for Scott and Robbo, so we will see how good te production boats loook and go. AMAC promises to be here too with the #1 Geelong boat.
Not sure about Bladerider presence. Only know of John Harris but he has not raced moths since Geelong.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Karma foils at last
A test on Wednesday revealed continued foil control / linkage issues.
I rejigged the main foil incidnece on Thursday and greatly improved the linkages adding a tiny model yacht rigging screw for fine adjustments.
Saturdays pre race test proved it worthwhile and the boat flew straight off. OK but low upwind but high, fast and stable downwind: looking good. As this was as much work as the boat had done it was also a good test of various experimental components two of which were found wanting.
First the forward rakes diamonds spreaders broke proving that they really are doing something and also that the mast will not break without them.
Then while riding high on the opposite tack towards home, the tiny half rudder box shattered.
Repairs will be simple but I think I am running out of time for the Easter State champs. I would rather sail my properly sorted boat than spend the weekend breaking and repairing.
And to reinforce that opinion, I made the beach in time to pack up Karma and rig Tiger on a Chain, make the race start and sail as well as I ever have, finishing third to Dave and Steve in the last heat of our club champs. I think the old boat was telling me that it is not finished with me yet.
I rejigged the main foil incidnece on Thursday and greatly improved the linkages adding a tiny model yacht rigging screw for fine adjustments.
Saturdays pre race test proved it worthwhile and the boat flew straight off. OK but low upwind but high, fast and stable downwind: looking good. As this was as much work as the boat had done it was also a good test of various experimental components two of which were found wanting.
First the forward rakes diamonds spreaders broke proving that they really are doing something and also that the mast will not break without them.
Then while riding high on the opposite tack towards home, the tiny half rudder box shattered.
Repairs will be simple but I think I am running out of time for the Easter State champs. I would rather sail my properly sorted boat than spend the weekend breaking and repairing.
And to reinforce that opinion, I made the beach in time to pack up Karma and rig Tiger on a Chain, make the race start and sail as well as I ever have, finishing third to Dave and Steve in the last heat of our club champs. I think the old boat was telling me that it is not finished with me yet.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Karma sails
I launched Karma yesterday afternoon in a light easterly scratching to make 10kts. A short sail but at least nothing broke. No unusual noises either. I had some unforseen linkage issues and it did not foil so I still have some sorting to do. As well I tore a pocket on the tramp so its off again for some adjustments. Should get another test later in the week when I will get some good photos.
So far so good. It certainly goes better than std in sub foiling pressure downwind, with the unstayed rig going fully out. Full width tramp is comfortable, Cut down tiger hull has enough volume in the right places.
So far so good. It certainly goes better than std in sub foiling pressure downwind, with the unstayed rig going fully out. Full width tramp is comfortable, Cut down tiger hull has enough volume in the right places.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Karma with wings
Some effort being made to get Karma finished for a week's time.
Wings are on. Very light. Mast, boom, tramp and rudder box to finish.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
St George racing again
Last week all the Geelong travellers opted out, leaving only Clive, Chris and Grant to race. Then only Grant finished, Chris breaking his gantry and clive having various issues.
So this week a big NE, big waves, small fleet, no result.
Only Dave, Bruce, Andrew and I raced. Kylie and Luka thought it was going to be light and went sailboarding. As we approached start time the NE kicked and built and combined with the last of the run out tide we had some big waves for the downwinds.
Super Dave flew high and fast and consequently had many swims. Andrew had trouble downwind and trailed. Bruce found it tough and played safe with an early return to the beach.
I had my boat back in the for sale mode, Thorpe mast, P&B sail, symetrical rudder foil, and I have another interested buyer.
I had fun upwind, struggled downwind but found low, slow and cautious was good value and lead the race for almost two laps, unlil two successive nose dives broke first the vang then the mast.
Fortunately the potential buyer does not want the mast and sail so we are negotiating.
Anyway Dave and Andrew broke wand and linkages so no one finished. Club Champs again in a couple of weeks so everyone should be out again next week.
So this week a big NE, big waves, small fleet, no result.
Only Dave, Bruce, Andrew and I raced. Kylie and Luka thought it was going to be light and went sailboarding. As we approached start time the NE kicked and built and combined with the last of the run out tide we had some big waves for the downwinds.
Super Dave flew high and fast and consequently had many swims. Andrew had trouble downwind and trailed. Bruce found it tough and played safe with an early return to the beach.
I had my boat back in the for sale mode, Thorpe mast, P&B sail, symetrical rudder foil, and I have another interested buyer.
I had fun upwind, struggled downwind but found low, slow and cautious was good value and lead the race for almost two laps, unlil two successive nose dives broke first the vang then the mast.
Fortunately the potential buyer does not want the mast and sail so we are negotiating.
Anyway Dave and Andrew broke wand and linkages so no one finished. Club Champs again in a couple of weeks so everyone should be out again next week.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Time for a change - Tiger for Sale
Geelong is over and I think I have Tiger on a Chain going as well as it ever has gone. I have done the permanent fixes to the regatta wear and tear and the boat is now ready for a new owner. I have a 3/4 completed project in Karma which I am keen to complete and get sailing. A new design and sailing adventure, what mothing is all about.
So any one who wants a good moth for about half the going price of its close competitors. $A8K and its yours. I raced the week with all the mid fleet Bladeriders and Prowlers most of which were in the $A16K mark, and not far off the $A20K boats.
What you get is a 4 year old Hungry Tiger with wings and rudder made in our shop plus an Illet main foil set. Rig is Thorpey extra stiff mast and boom with an English P&B sail not unlike a MSL10 in shape.
I have had a couple of queries but no one yet has agreed to buy. Some overseas interest but I would prefer to build our local fleet and avoid the packng and freight hassles.
For what it is worth the estimates for box and freight to europe are about an extra $A2K which seems to add too much cost for the boat value.
Contact me philstevo2003 (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au
So any one who wants a good moth for about half the going price of its close competitors. $A8K and its yours. I raced the week with all the mid fleet Bladeriders and Prowlers most of which were in the $A16K mark, and not far off the $A20K boats.
What you get is a 4 year old Hungry Tiger with wings and rudder made in our shop plus an Illet main foil set. Rig is Thorpey extra stiff mast and boom with an English P&B sail not unlike a MSL10 in shape.
I have had a couple of queries but no one yet has agreed to buy. Some overseas interest but I would prefer to build our local fleet and avoid the packng and freight hassles.
For what it is worth the estimates for box and freight to europe are about an extra $A2K which seems to add too much cost for the boat value.
Contact me philstevo2003 (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
GEELONG WEEK
The Moth Nationals was a part of Scandia Geelong Week.
RGYC is a nice club with a big compound of hardstand and slips, marina, plus a newish club/bar building and an old boatshed/sailing building. Its mostly run by volunteers.
But for the early moth regatta days it was a construction site, all the hardstand boats were packed up back, slipways covered and huge marquis erected.
From monday to Friday the mothies rigged on the adjacent beach, had our boats stored in a temporary compound in the car park and transitted to the boatshed for sign on/off and showers but few ventured through the works to the bar.
By saturday the building was completed and the food and drink outlets installed, sponsors banners and flags everywhere. By the time we returned from Saturday's late racing the place was full of people, thousands of them. The marina was chock a bock with yachts, not just the few sports boats and trailer yachts we saw during the week but everything from 50 year old 22ft Bluebirds to 100ft Skandia and state of the art Loki. There was a band on stage which could barely be heard over the crowd. There was an aerobatics display then the Moth dash for cash.
And outside the club compound which you need a club issued pass to even get into, the local council has a similar festival all along the water front, more stages and bands, lots more food stalls, and thousands more people.
Not a normal Moth regatta!
And despite all this apparent chaos, we walked casually into the club bar, waited only a few seconds to be served and then pulled up a chair at a table and has a nice chat with some other visitors.
The next night after packing up we had aerobatics again and after dark a fireworks display to backdrop our presentation night.
Amazing, well done RGYC, Scandia and other sponsors, City of Geelong, and all the sailors and locals who were just having a good fun time.
I will have to amend my aversion to big combined regattas after this one.
RGYC is a nice club with a big compound of hardstand and slips, marina, plus a newish club/bar building and an old boatshed/sailing building. Its mostly run by volunteers.
But for the early moth regatta days it was a construction site, all the hardstand boats were packed up back, slipways covered and huge marquis erected.
From monday to Friday the mothies rigged on the adjacent beach, had our boats stored in a temporary compound in the car park and transitted to the boatshed for sign on/off and showers but few ventured through the works to the bar.
By saturday the building was completed and the food and drink outlets installed, sponsors banners and flags everywhere. By the time we returned from Saturday's late racing the place was full of people, thousands of them. The marina was chock a bock with yachts, not just the few sports boats and trailer yachts we saw during the week but everything from 50 year old 22ft Bluebirds to 100ft Skandia and state of the art Loki. There was a band on stage which could barely be heard over the crowd. There was an aerobatics display then the Moth dash for cash.
And outside the club compound which you need a club issued pass to even get into, the local council has a similar festival all along the water front, more stages and bands, lots more food stalls, and thousands more people.
Not a normal Moth regatta!
And despite all this apparent chaos, we walked casually into the club bar, waited only a few seconds to be served and then pulled up a chair at a table and has a nice chat with some other visitors.
The next night after packing up we had aerobatics again and after dark a fireworks display to backdrop our presentation night.
Amazing, well done RGYC, Scandia and other sponsors, City of Geelong, and all the sailors and locals who were just having a good fun time.
I will have to amend my aversion to big combined regattas after this one.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Where to Now?
Lots learnt at Geelong. I got the Tiger going faster than ever, always finishing just behind a few boats by about what I lose in one or two poor tacks or gybes. I probably should just practice and get fitter but that sounds like hard work and not as interesting as boat development for my mind. And I have people interested in buying the Tiger so its on with progress on Karma.
So using as many good ideas from others as I can adapt here is where I am going:
Foils:
I have John Ilett foils, and I have already installed a piano type hinge from carbon tubes, this should reduce drag somewhat like the gap closure design on the Mach2 foil.
I have an Ilett aft foil buat may also build another symetrical one. My previous one is bigger and thicker than Dave's so I might be able to improve it.
The verticals are molded and ready for finishing, as light as I have made, proven laminate, but with the top end tapered to reduce weight of both foil and case. Makes for a neaster no-jam fit too.
Either way the foils are interchangeable as the slip in Tees are working and I am comfortable with the sesign and laminate now. Will make packing for US Worlds easier.
Hull:
In the light stuff the old Tiger hull was still fastest. I just did not get a race where nonone foiled so could not prove it is still the best. Even AMAC commented during one of the prerace drift offs that it moves well through the water. So I am comfortable with Karma's Hungry Tiger heriatage. It will be fasts when no one foils.
But everyone else is getting lower, but not as low as Karma. And I will have less windage still with curved decks and as the gap between hull and trampoline will eliminate the wind brake. So it should be good when foiling too. It weighs 8.5kg, on pace with the lightest.
Wings:
Smaller: The aft wing is forward 400mm from transom. The forward wing is back a bit and both are simple Vs set on struts above the deck, like Greg K, Fuzzy Logic, Hobiecat, C Cats. The wings are only 1600 apart so the outer tubes are smaller and lighter too. Should save a few kg here on the old boat.
Rig:
I have the new KA and CST so I have to adapt these to suit the ustayed or minimum stayed rig.
I have some 50m and 60mm tubes coming to extend the mast to max moth length and to plug into the hull. I have no issue with strength at the deck having learnt from Chainsaw and the Canoe. Initially I will try using forward raked diamond on the mast to manage mast bend above the deck. Worked for the other two boats enough to encorage a more refined development of the idea. I may get lucky enough to get the mast to match the bend on the conventional satyed rigs so the sail will not need adjustment but thats proabbly unlikely. It may be close as the KA is not much different to the luff curve on the canoe sail.
I am keen to avoid stays for two reasons. Safety, I have had some bad collissions with wire and seen some a lot worse. Efficiency: In light stuff the modern sails can not be squared out because of excess depth and very hard battens against the stays. The unstayed rig will go right out and the boat will run fast. Also there will be less windage from wires and struts by 30%..
Comfort:
I have a few shin abrasions but not as many as some prople. With the full width trampoline it is very soft on the body. And running side to side is juat as easy.
More ideas:
I am planning to rig the wings flatter and higher than on Tiger, one reason is to avoid the drag of the aft corner at take off, but also to minimise the windage of the leward wing when healed to windward.
Wand and Linkages:
I like Luka's adjustable length wand, Not sure about all of Dave's strings, I like to keep things simple. I have swithed the belcrank from the top of the fin to the hull and changed the orientation so the wand pushrod now acts in tension and hence will be a piece of 2mm vectran line. And I will have another version of the quick engage system I have on the tiger.
Enough free ideas for now. I know a lot of other mothies will be doing similar. Thats what keeps the class moving forward.
Back to the shed I do not want to be without a boat for too long.
So using as many good ideas from others as I can adapt here is where I am going:
Foils:
I have John Ilett foils, and I have already installed a piano type hinge from carbon tubes, this should reduce drag somewhat like the gap closure design on the Mach2 foil.
I have an Ilett aft foil buat may also build another symetrical one. My previous one is bigger and thicker than Dave's so I might be able to improve it.
The verticals are molded and ready for finishing, as light as I have made, proven laminate, but with the top end tapered to reduce weight of both foil and case. Makes for a neaster no-jam fit too.
Either way the foils are interchangeable as the slip in Tees are working and I am comfortable with the sesign and laminate now. Will make packing for US Worlds easier.
Hull:
In the light stuff the old Tiger hull was still fastest. I just did not get a race where nonone foiled so could not prove it is still the best. Even AMAC commented during one of the prerace drift offs that it moves well through the water. So I am comfortable with Karma's Hungry Tiger heriatage. It will be fasts when no one foils.
But everyone else is getting lower, but not as low as Karma. And I will have less windage still with curved decks and as the gap between hull and trampoline will eliminate the wind brake. So it should be good when foiling too. It weighs 8.5kg, on pace with the lightest.
Wings:
Smaller: The aft wing is forward 400mm from transom. The forward wing is back a bit and both are simple Vs set on struts above the deck, like Greg K, Fuzzy Logic, Hobiecat, C Cats. The wings are only 1600 apart so the outer tubes are smaller and lighter too. Should save a few kg here on the old boat.
Rig:
I have the new KA and CST so I have to adapt these to suit the ustayed or minimum stayed rig.
I have some 50m and 60mm tubes coming to extend the mast to max moth length and to plug into the hull. I have no issue with strength at the deck having learnt from Chainsaw and the Canoe. Initially I will try using forward raked diamond on the mast to manage mast bend above the deck. Worked for the other two boats enough to encorage a more refined development of the idea. I may get lucky enough to get the mast to match the bend on the conventional satyed rigs so the sail will not need adjustment but thats proabbly unlikely. It may be close as the KA is not much different to the luff curve on the canoe sail.
I am keen to avoid stays for two reasons. Safety, I have had some bad collissions with wire and seen some a lot worse. Efficiency: In light stuff the modern sails can not be squared out because of excess depth and very hard battens against the stays. The unstayed rig will go right out and the boat will run fast. Also there will be less windage from wires and struts by 30%..
Comfort:
I have a few shin abrasions but not as many as some prople. With the full width trampoline it is very soft on the body. And running side to side is juat as easy.
More ideas:
I am planning to rig the wings flatter and higher than on Tiger, one reason is to avoid the drag of the aft corner at take off, but also to minimise the windage of the leward wing when healed to windward.
Wand and Linkages:
I like Luka's adjustable length wand, Not sure about all of Dave's strings, I like to keep things simple. I have swithed the belcrank from the top of the fin to the hull and changed the orientation so the wand pushrod now acts in tension and hence will be a piece of 2mm vectran line. And I will have another version of the quick engage system I have on the tiger.
Enough free ideas for now. I know a lot of other mothies will be doing similar. Thats what keeps the class moving forward.
Back to the shed I do not want to be without a boat for too long.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Whats New?
North sail won even though 90% + used KAs. So we now have a viable alternative race sail.
Mach2 stayed in one piece, except for a wing tramp. It goes fast in Simon's hands and survived a few test sails from AMAC so must be strong. I see it as a refinement of the Bladerider rather than a revolution. It has styling changes at each end, new foil sections, different wand linkages and is built very well, it looks very neat with no painted patches, all clear carbon. There are some subtle but important details, the foil flap has a gap closing overlap like model gliders use, not unlike my experiment last year. The main foil strut is enlarged slightly at the boat and foil ends to increase strength at critical zones. (done that too) The wand linkages and tensioning system is hiden in the foredeck. There are some neat designs in the wing tube connections to the hull and each other.
All nice stuff.
Meanwhile the new Bladeriders had some issues with the new manufacturer, some soft resin, some joint failures and lots of patches and paint before and during the regatta. Nathan had none of this as he sailed an old X8. Be sure that they will get this sorted before they let too many boats out of the shop. They will have learned a lot from the problems with the firts 50 X8s two years ago. About half the fleet were X8s who all survived in good condition save a couple of accidents.
CST high mod masts were popular up front. There are several stiffnesses now and the stiffer seemed to be best. Brownie had a Southern Spars small dia high mod mast to compete with the CST and the Mach2 has a McConaughy version too.
Dave had the gadgets, adjustments to cable length, wand bungee, wand rotation limits and he tilted the whole gantry rather than the ASTEVO tiller tilt per Bladerider etc. He has a different rudder foil too which I am sworn to be silent about. All too complex for us to actually know when and what he adjusts on the move, but he has an excellent understanding and makes it all work.
I learnt enough by mid week to make some wand adjustments and greatly improve my light wind flying. It all comes slowly.
Luka had an adjustable length wand. But it did not last to the regatta end. Good idea though, might try one.
Mach2 stayed in one piece, except for a wing tramp. It goes fast in Simon's hands and survived a few test sails from AMAC so must be strong. I see it as a refinement of the Bladerider rather than a revolution. It has styling changes at each end, new foil sections, different wand linkages and is built very well, it looks very neat with no painted patches, all clear carbon. There are some subtle but important details, the foil flap has a gap closing overlap like model gliders use, not unlike my experiment last year. The main foil strut is enlarged slightly at the boat and foil ends to increase strength at critical zones. (done that too) The wand linkages and tensioning system is hiden in the foredeck. There are some neat designs in the wing tube connections to the hull and each other.
All nice stuff.
Meanwhile the new Bladeriders had some issues with the new manufacturer, some soft resin, some joint failures and lots of patches and paint before and during the regatta. Nathan had none of this as he sailed an old X8. Be sure that they will get this sorted before they let too many boats out of the shop. They will have learned a lot from the problems with the firts 50 X8s two years ago. About half the fleet were X8s who all survived in good condition save a couple of accidents.
CST high mod masts were popular up front. There are several stiffnesses now and the stiffer seemed to be best. Brownie had a Southern Spars small dia high mod mast to compete with the CST and the Mach2 has a McConaughy version too.
Dave had the gadgets, adjustments to cable length, wand bungee, wand rotation limits and he tilted the whole gantry rather than the ASTEVO tiller tilt per Bladerider etc. He has a different rudder foil too which I am sworn to be silent about. All too complex for us to actually know when and what he adjusts on the move, but he has an excellent understanding and makes it all work.
I learnt enough by mid week to make some wand adjustments and greatly improve my light wind flying. It all comes slowly.
Luka had an adjustable length wand. But it did not last to the regatta end. Good idea though, might try one.
Geelong Results
Details are on http://topyachtsoftware.com/results/2009/sgw/series/moth/SGrp1.htm
Re my predictions, I think I got 8 or 9 of the top 10. And 16 of the top 20, so my result of 22 was about on target but one short of my longstanding ambition of top 50%. And i missed master (over 45) to my Pommie/Bladerider/Balmoral team mate Martin Cross. We were close at least some of the time in most races.
At the middle of the fleet we had the oportunity/embarrasment of a swim, coming up to then be racing against a different group of boats.
My boat was going very well, I lost out due to a few swims and some bad tactical decicions, my excuse is age and agility. I used the new KA MSL 13 and CST mast purchased for Karma.
My best race was 14th, one light day when I rounded the last mark with a bunch including 3rd place Scott, leaving Luka and Dave behind. Not all bad, I just could not quite stay with the bunch downwind.
The top sailors are very good, a few full timers but some fast weekenders too. Lots of variety in boats and rigs which is good for the class. While the top BR or Mach2 would need a mortgage on your first born, some home builts are up there too. More comments on the new stiff coming in another specific post.
Suffice to say, Nathan on Bladerider proved the best regatta sailor, Simon on Mach2 won the most races, but Dave's home made boat with Prowler foil had the fastest downwind speed once there when the wind was up.
Re my predictions, I think I got 8 or 9 of the top 10. And 16 of the top 20, so my result of 22 was about on target but one short of my longstanding ambition of top 50%. And i missed master (over 45) to my Pommie/Bladerider/Balmoral team mate Martin Cross. We were close at least some of the time in most races.
At the middle of the fleet we had the oportunity/embarrasment of a swim, coming up to then be racing against a different group of boats.
My boat was going very well, I lost out due to a few swims and some bad tactical decicions, my excuse is age and agility. I used the new KA MSL 13 and CST mast purchased for Karma.
My best race was 14th, one light day when I rounded the last mark with a bunch including 3rd place Scott, leaving Luka and Dave behind. Not all bad, I just could not quite stay with the bunch downwind.
The top sailors are very good, a few full timers but some fast weekenders too. Lots of variety in boats and rigs which is good for the class. While the top BR or Mach2 would need a mortgage on your first born, some home builts are up there too. More comments on the new stiff coming in another specific post.
Suffice to say, Nathan on Bladerider proved the best regatta sailor, Simon on Mach2 won the most races, but Dave's home made boat with Prowler foil had the fastest downwind speed once there when the wind was up.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Nationals training and form guide
I have spent real some time on the water over the past three days. A late afternoon on the harbour with Les for nearly 2 hours on Friday, A couple of hours with the St George crowd on Saturday and back on the harbour this afternoon with Les, Alan and Marty.
I am knackered, which I account not to the sailing but to moving over a half ton of concrete from yard to barrow to trailer and then to tip, all by hand on Friday AM. I need a few days R & R.
Only one small issue with the boat when the vang mount detatched form the boom, all fixed, improved and tested today, boat is ready for the Geelong. Since boat is about to be sold I have to keep it all in good condition.
I am happy with my speed. In a straight line I am pacing it with boats I shouldn't, my corners are still dubious but I am now making almost all my Gybes without a splash, so certainly things are faster and smoother than when I last raced a regatta (SIRS). The new KA MSL13 is an improvement as is the new Ilett aft foil. I thought for a few years that the KA would not suit my very stiff Thorpey mast but after seeing everyone else getting stiffer and stiffer masts I took the plunge and it seems to be good. High and fast.
So how do the Sydney boats rate? The fastest boats I raced against were Dave Lister and Luka Damic, They were noticably faster than me. I seemed at least some of the time to have upwind pace (height really) on Les, Lea, Steve, and when they got ahead it was not by far. So I am in tier 2 of the fleet which with any luck will be better than my 50% target.
Anyway while we were sailing at St George on Sat, Les and the Woollahra All Stars were out racing. Reports are that Les was quite competitive, so if I am with him maybe the two St George hotshots have an edge.
Form Guide: I will not pick places but based on observations and reports, plus past regatta cudos/strategies/craft, here is my go at the top 10 in no particular order:
Best from Sydney:
Dave Lister (Alpha) has been the gun boat for over a year. He has had some niggling gear failures but will be looking at all details as he packs up for the trip south.
Luka Damic, (Prowler) as fast as Dave, newer boat so less likely to break, but has a habit of kacking it if he gets a bad result early.
Scott Babbage, same boat as Luka, but has better regatta record, probably better prepared in terms of fitness but speed reportedly a little off.
John Harris, Bladerider VRX, proven regatta record, world champ, very little time in a moth since, new untested boat , which may be too light to last the regatta out.
Best from rest of Aust:
AMAC of course, if the Mach2 is as good as the hype and if it stays together, same problem as John except I do not know if its even been in the water yet? He drives hard, so if the boat is up to it he will win races.
Only other one is Rod Ray from QLD who seems to get as much from an X8 as anyone. His last bout for a while as the boat is for sale in aid of a marriage home.
Thats only 6, so what foreigners have a show?
Bora (X8) the explorer has the best publicity campaign courtesy of Mr Block from Sailing Anarchy. At SIRS he was fast but got upstaged by the other yanks who have now gone home. (As instructed in traditional Aussie greeting)
Arnaud from Switz, (X8) proved un expectedly fast at Weymouth so will be faster now, I take this on report of others, I have yet to met him.
Simon Payne, the token pom, will have same issues as AMAC except he will be gentler on the boat and will go faster when the wind is light.
Thats 9, I have 1 left and I will pick someone who has never sailed a moth regatta. But he is 49er WC, stared in the best sailing TV program ever in not winning an Olympic medal last year and just placed 11th in the ACat WC with bugger all preparaton or cat experience. I have watched Nathan Outteridge race since he was about 11 and there was always something special. He has had a Bladerider to play with for a while and will be getting 110% from it, he knows his way around the wind.
I have left out the posibility of Rohan competeing as even if he was a secret late entry I understand the second VRX will not be ready and I doubt he will sail an FX.
OK pundits pull that apart.
edit: In the interest of scoring Blog points I should have mentioned Andrew Brown from the broken isles, because he beat the yanks in Melbourne before Chrismas. The other Aussie who almost made the list is from our other forgotten island, Rob from tassie who won a race at Sirs and was showing good speed.
That would be 12 so to round out the top 20 I should consider:
Alan Goddard, Steve Donovan, Lea Sitja, Greg Wise, Andrew Stevenson, Les Thorpe, Mark Robinson. Thats 21 so I see my target of making 50% in a fleet of 43 pretty daunting.
Weather for Geelong? The summer pattern has started. Looking like light in the mornings, 0-8 followed by 15-25 in the afternoons. With a good mix of am/pm it should sort out the all rounders. Can't wait.
I am knackered, which I account not to the sailing but to moving over a half ton of concrete from yard to barrow to trailer and then to tip, all by hand on Friday AM. I need a few days R & R.
Only one small issue with the boat when the vang mount detatched form the boom, all fixed, improved and tested today, boat is ready for the Geelong. Since boat is about to be sold I have to keep it all in good condition.
I am happy with my speed. In a straight line I am pacing it with boats I shouldn't, my corners are still dubious but I am now making almost all my Gybes without a splash, so certainly things are faster and smoother than when I last raced a regatta (SIRS). The new KA MSL13 is an improvement as is the new Ilett aft foil. I thought for a few years that the KA would not suit my very stiff Thorpey mast but after seeing everyone else getting stiffer and stiffer masts I took the plunge and it seems to be good. High and fast.
So how do the Sydney boats rate? The fastest boats I raced against were Dave Lister and Luka Damic, They were noticably faster than me. I seemed at least some of the time to have upwind pace (height really) on Les, Lea, Steve, and when they got ahead it was not by far. So I am in tier 2 of the fleet which with any luck will be better than my 50% target.
Anyway while we were sailing at St George on Sat, Les and the Woollahra All Stars were out racing. Reports are that Les was quite competitive, so if I am with him maybe the two St George hotshots have an edge.
Form Guide: I will not pick places but based on observations and reports, plus past regatta cudos/strategies/craft, here is my go at the top 10 in no particular order:
Best from Sydney:
Dave Lister (Alpha) has been the gun boat for over a year. He has had some niggling gear failures but will be looking at all details as he packs up for the trip south.
Luka Damic, (Prowler) as fast as Dave, newer boat so less likely to break, but has a habit of kacking it if he gets a bad result early.
Scott Babbage, same boat as Luka, but has better regatta record, probably better prepared in terms of fitness but speed reportedly a little off.
John Harris, Bladerider VRX, proven regatta record, world champ, very little time in a moth since, new untested boat , which may be too light to last the regatta out.
Best from rest of Aust:
AMAC of course, if the Mach2 is as good as the hype and if it stays together, same problem as John except I do not know if its even been in the water yet? He drives hard, so if the boat is up to it he will win races.
Only other one is Rod Ray from QLD who seems to get as much from an X8 as anyone. His last bout for a while as the boat is for sale in aid of a marriage home.
Thats only 6, so what foreigners have a show?
Bora (X8) the explorer has the best publicity campaign courtesy of Mr Block from Sailing Anarchy. At SIRS he was fast but got upstaged by the other yanks who have now gone home. (As instructed in traditional Aussie greeting)
Arnaud from Switz, (X8) proved un expectedly fast at Weymouth so will be faster now, I take this on report of others, I have yet to met him.
Simon Payne, the token pom, will have same issues as AMAC except he will be gentler on the boat and will go faster when the wind is light.
Thats 9, I have 1 left and I will pick someone who has never sailed a moth regatta. But he is 49er WC, stared in the best sailing TV program ever in not winning an Olympic medal last year and just placed 11th in the ACat WC with bugger all preparaton or cat experience. I have watched Nathan Outteridge race since he was about 11 and there was always something special. He has had a Bladerider to play with for a while and will be getting 110% from it, he knows his way around the wind.
I have left out the posibility of Rohan competeing as even if he was a secret late entry I understand the second VRX will not be ready and I doubt he will sail an FX.
OK pundits pull that apart.
edit: In the interest of scoring Blog points I should have mentioned Andrew Brown from the broken isles, because he beat the yanks in Melbourne before Chrismas. The other Aussie who almost made the list is from our other forgotten island, Rob from tassie who won a race at Sirs and was showing good speed.
That would be 12 so to round out the top 20 I should consider:
Alan Goddard, Steve Donovan, Lea Sitja, Greg Wise, Andrew Stevenson, Les Thorpe, Mark Robinson. Thats 21 so I see my target of making 50% in a fleet of 43 pretty daunting.
Weather for Geelong? The summer pattern has started. Looking like light in the mornings, 0-8 followed by 15-25 in the afternoons. With a good mix of am/pm it should sort out the all rounders. Can't wait.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Holiday fun
Christmas New year is traditional holiday time in Aust, but for the retired we get to go to work on a voluntary basis.
I spent the last week manning the mark laying boat for the Mirror Nationals, good company, nice scenery off Middle harbour, but not a lot of action with a fleet of mirrors. I was just helping out a group of good friends from Hunters Hill and Balmoral clubs.
After day one, one of these people really asked for trouble by saying honestly that the photos from the rigging park were more interesting than the sailing photos. She was relaxed enough to not anticipate my reply: "thats where all the action was", but I got away with it alive.
There was one day where a good SE and a little sea swell allowed the leaders to surf, and I honestly had not seen mirrors go that fast before. They had fun.
Anyway I have now made a contribution to our sport and will feel thankful to those who will be running our Geelong Nationals, knowing what they have given up for us.
On the only morning I was able to get the moth in the water there was only 5 to 8 kts and I spent most of the time with the hull in the a water. I was sailing with flyweight, Allan Goddard and his brand new Prowler and although he was noticably flying sooner, I thought my speed once up was reasonable.
I will get a more runs in the next few weeks before we all go to Geelong for the Nationals. Mostly practice turning corners.
I spent the last week manning the mark laying boat for the Mirror Nationals, good company, nice scenery off Middle harbour, but not a lot of action with a fleet of mirrors. I was just helping out a group of good friends from Hunters Hill and Balmoral clubs.
After day one, one of these people really asked for trouble by saying honestly that the photos from the rigging park were more interesting than the sailing photos. She was relaxed enough to not anticipate my reply: "thats where all the action was", but I got away with it alive.
There was one day where a good SE and a little sea swell allowed the leaders to surf, and I honestly had not seen mirrors go that fast before. They had fun.
Anyway I have now made a contribution to our sport and will feel thankful to those who will be running our Geelong Nationals, knowing what they have given up for us.
On the only morning I was able to get the moth in the water there was only 5 to 8 kts and I spent most of the time with the hull in the a water. I was sailing with flyweight, Allan Goddard and his brand new Prowler and although he was noticably flying sooner, I thought my speed once up was reasonable.
I will get a more runs in the next few weeks before we all go to Geelong for the Nationals. Mostly practice turning corners.
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