Re: The case for the 3:1 mainsheet...
Magico1@aol.com
Tue, 22 Jun 1999 21:23:25 EDT
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Eric, It sounds like you are doing well racing your Potter. To win a
sailboat race you have to be good at tacking. With your mainsheet rigged so
it is balanced, your boom goes over to the exact position on the other side.
So as soon as she comes through the eye of the wind your main is powered.
This helps keep your speed up through the tacks. Also learn to feel wind
shifts and take advantage of them to point closer. A couple of years ago I
got into a race with a Mc Gregor 26 X. It was a three mile upwind race in 15
knots of wind . the big boat had a seasoned skipper and crew. My son and I
won the race by out tacking them.
I have never used wind vanes or telltales, I rely on the boat and my
sences to tell me whats going on. Get your boat going to weather and close
your eyes and see if you can hold a coarse and feel the wind shifts. I have a
friend that has a $1000.00 guage on his boat to tell him where the wind is
coming from. What a waste of money!
On the other hand, since Left Coast Larry Costa installed telltales on
his Potter he has been been really flying.
By the way my mainsheet and jibsheet are7/16 dia. and my halyards are
5/16 in dia. I know this is overkill, but they feel better. Jerry
Barrilleaux (Commodore, Potter Yachters)