Lake Champlain Yacht Club

Some tips and insights Ernie shared after the most recent (Feb 7-8, 2015) Jaguar series (with some editorial adjustments/additions by El Capitan).

Some interesting findings to share "for what they are worth"
- in heavy air moved the uppers back 2 holes from lowers...made huge difference in maintaining less head stay sag...no issues if wind drops held ok without penalty down to 15 or less if chop -beneficial w chop well below recommended 20 plus knots. In waves fore stay was oscillating and had lots of sag - adding backstay to flatten main shortens mast and slackens head stay more - jumpers back of mast allows to keep headstay tighter. (Ed: this is standard tuning guide advice for 20+ that most of us don't usually bother with.)
- used an "off the boat" coach to prep prior to the regatta...provided valuable perspective and input
- Coach also had us twist the main at top more...we were running too flat. (Ed: this is for 18+ and chop...twist and drive a bit lower)
- (Ed: Ernie has the new mast ram which replaces the step block/chocks system.) It is really interesting...can see changes as they happen with main and is always secure
- adjustable head stay is a great addition - no undoing bungee - no clevis and o ring in mouth jumping around in waves hoping you don't drop them....made in England - nice addition for series
- we added markers to spreaders - inside reference for lighter air - outside for heavier...good idea (Ed: if you don't have these already, talk to Ernie, Dave or me)
- having yarn on shrouds gives better reference for squaring pole than Windex (Ed: agree...this is what we have on Pied Piper.)
- interesting technique for jibing in lighter conditions when all on weather rail - bow guy says made not when attached to mast but when made on new guy - than crew quickly moves to this new side - pole floats out nicely and smoothly...never did that - works well..
- having coach do a ton of 3 minute starts over and over is a huge benefit - suggest we do that one night....tons of starts - than tune against one another for a few short legs/ races
- north sail setting very different now from our old settings - like a new boat - trying to get use to it..
- fleet down here is much tighter / tougher - but 80 not 10 below..