Chris Sayer
P15, #2380, Akala
-----Original Message-----
From: Stallings Mike [mailto:Stallings_Mike@prc.com]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 11:49 AM
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com
Cc: 'ecpa@onelist.com'
Subject: RE: Enough wind to make me pay attention
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Sailors,
I've been seeing a number "can't trim the sails properly" remarks lately
(but not necessarily this particular email I'm responding to now). This is
going to be controversial, but, speaking for the P15, I believe this boat is
relatively difficult to learn to sail _well_, and perhaps the P19 is the
same way. Being new to the boat myself, and having observed people I have
been teaching to sail, I believe the primary reason for this is that, in the
beginning, the boat gives the illusion of being unstable, which causes
newbies to fear sheeting in enough, and causes them to round up too often.
I noticed this in myself, and I've been sailing small boats a long time, and
I sail in a "very safe" area. I also felt at first that the standard jib
was particularly finicky.
Having said that, now that I've gotten used to it, I think the boat sails
beautifully and is very stable, and a great boat for pressing hard in strong
winds. I would recommend that newbies sail under main alone so you can
sheet in hard without fear. I also recommend intentionally heeling the boat
in a "safe" area to gain confidence. Also important, learn to sail when
there is nobody aboard that you are worried about. If friends or family is
aboard, that will compound your worries greatly, and they will frequently
jump around and overcompensate at the first sign of heeling, and they will
sense and amplify your own fear.
Finally, I wonder if the side rails don't just make things worse because
they cage you in. I do not have them, and when I'm pressing hard, I am
happy to know I can always just pop up to the side and hike out, or simply
lean back to keep from sliding out of the boat.
I make no claims to being an expert Potterer, these are just my impressions
as a complete newbie. Every time I go out, my impressions change (but
always for the better).
Mike Stallings
556-2298 (W)
'85 P15 #1589, Norfolk VA
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Pederson [mailto:eric@winternet.com]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 1:41 PM
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com
Subject: Re: Enough wind to make me pay attention
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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It has been rumored that Mac Davis said:
>
> What you probably felt was the "groove" - that
semi-mystical condition where
> the wind, water, sails, boat and helmsperson are
completely in sync. Feels
> good, doesn;t it.
We've been in the groove before - this felt a bit different.
Maybe it was
the higher than usual winds and the fact that I finally
trimmed the sails
well. Whatever, it did feel good.
--
Eric L. Pederson
P-19 #970, Necessity
Bloomington, MN