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BBBS Sailing Reflections (SB20 2 and Byte 4) (29 Aug 2020)

SB20 Keelboat
SB20 Sailing
Use wind indicator if available. Sometimes sail trailing edge will have telltales going off wrongly, but leading edge will still luff. So prioritise leading edge. 
Also, developed a system where I will sit FWD of the main sheet pulley, and not cross over the traveller cleat. And when tacking, I've got to be nimble and squeeze in the gap between the main sheet and the traveller. 
Shift weight around to lean/roll the boat when turning. Roll the boat towards the outside of the turn to encourage it to turn in the opposite direction. (eg roll to starboard and boat will turn to port). Watch for optimum timing to move from one side to another, especially when tacking or gybing. When gybing: 1. Lean weight out to initiate heel away from sail and encourage steering, 2. Initiate sail swingover, 3. When boat has arrived at desired heading, dash over to the other side and lean weight out to flatten /unroll the boat, re-power the sail and accelerate. When tacking: 1. Helm steers boat and crew to lean weight slightly in to encourage steerage, 2. As soon as / right before crossing no-go zone, lean weight out to initiate heel in direction of turn to prepare for acceleration in next step, 3. Once on desired new heading, dash over to the other side and lean weight out to flatten/unroll the boat, re-power the sail and accelerate. Unsure about tacking roll procedures. To clarify next session. 

Things to try next session:
1. Testing out and fine-tuning system developed last session
2. Gain better familiarity with when and how to roll the boat via more mindful practises
2a. Clarify rolling procedures for tacking and gybing. 
3. Use senses and analyse correct wind direction and proper sail trim, then compare with wind indicator. 
 



Byte Sailing

List of things to work on (carried over from previously):

  • Use the telltales better - the side that has the telltale drooping means that that side does not have strong airflow over it. Solution: position the sail in a manner that will expose it to the wind to ensure good airflow over both sides of the sail (only applicable from close-haul to broad reach, when below broad reach, drag force dominates as thrust force and telltales will be useless).
  • Practice port-rounding and more consciously gain the estimate of the boat's turning line.
  • When the wind shifts aft, point into the wind more rather than letting out the sail. Likewise when the wind shifts up, the sail will start to luff, at that moment, bear away a little.
  • Get better familiarity with tacking procedure in cockpit. Also learn rope management tricks.
  • Simulate lifting and lowering daggerboard for different points of sail (even though the daggerboard is stuck hard in its slot).
  • Practise aiming at a distant point (especially when/after tacking or gybing).
  • Learn to adjust the fine controls such as the vang, the outhaul and the downhaul.
  • Learn how to roll-tack.
  • Hand-over-hand sheeting in (while keeping the rudder on course)
  • Organise spare main sheet in forward starboard corner of dinghy cockpit, but at the same level/line as the main sheet pulley (do not put it any bit further forward of the pulley)
 
Light wind conditions today. Actually, zero wind. 

Learnt to roll the boat (as in roll-tack type of rolling, but in zero wind to generate some driving force), but need to be more comfortable with generating a greater angle of heel. Now still a little awkward in movement.

Had a mini race. Lost speed at mark rounding. Opponent could cut inside of my turn (somehow, I don't know how, I thought I cut a narrow enough line, but I left a generous safety allowance between me and the hard buoy). 

Additionally, opponent kept feeding me dirty wind, and I couldn't get out no matter how hard I tried. 

Lastly, I'm not sure how to keep my sail trim proper. I felt at times it was proper (e.g. I'm actually sailing a little off close-haul, and my sail boom was just a little off the corner of the boat, accordingly. In this instance, I was able to generate a higher linear velocity than my opponent, who had his sail sheeted in to the corner. However, in another instance, he was able to be faster than me and I had no idea why.)
Response: looking at the sail and trimming according to sail luff might not be the most accurate thing all the time. Reason: a gust may come in, and you trim accordingly for the gust, but when the gust dies down, the sail trim will then be wrong for the general wind. So for this, you need very good wind awareness, and trim for the general wind, then respond accordingly to the gusts when they come. 


For next session, can try asking Coach Lionel what specific things to work on and improve.

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