Drifting in Mexico

[Timmy Z]

I had an interesting situation on the Ensenada trip taken a few weeks ago. I was following the flotilla north toward the southern Coronado Island when I notice a gradual slowing and lack of response from the helm. I motor sailed right behind Dave Clark and mimicked his sail trim and tack. I stopped in the water and started drifting sideways. I determined that I had centerboard problems and motored to San Diego. After removing my centerboard and inspecting the hanger, I found that there was no damage. I did find that the upper rudder brackets were very loose and the control bar arc was bent at a greater angle. So after repairs and thinking about it for a few days, I think I figured out what happened. Because of the exaggerated bend on the control arm and the loose upper brackets the rudders would turn toward each other and plow in the water. The drag created slowed the boat enough to render the centerboard ineffective, so I drifted sideways. Am I crazy or does the make sense?

Tim

[Tom Root]

No, not really, the geometry is quite different IMHO to cause some really strange handling characteristics in our boat's ability to track. All underwater foils do a tremendous job of tracking to a degree, but I am sure we all experience "slip", and when on a race course with what appears as same trim other X boats can either pinch better, or slip less, depending. two foil sailors compared our tri-foil setup has different helm response IMHO, and takes hetting used to! A way to really have better trim if the geometry is off, is to raise the windward rudder to check and see if it is still noticable. I would be curious to see if many out there notice a toe-in, toe-out problem which causes noticeable helm response differences?

Did you raise a rudder perhaps, to see if it made a difference?

If you know about speed brakes, and how they work on an aircraft, I can easily see the similarities, and how it can slow or even stop you. Hmmm, another mod, gotta figure out how to have an adjustment so I can stop my boat completely under sail, and on the same tack....that would be great to use at docks, or once I spied a good spot to SCUBA dive!!!

[dclark]

Maybe I'm just the better sailor

Now I wished I had been watching closer. I thought I saw you motorsail to get off shore and on a better tack. I'm not sure what your spped was, but I figured something goy overstressed and bent or broke. When you said the CB, I thought that was it for sure.

[Timmy Z]

You are a better sailor (hard for me to admit) then me.

I never motor faster then five MPH and kept it under that day. Whenever I motor, I pull the rudders and CB unless Im in a tight situation and need the maneuverability. Ill see how she handles next time I go out.

Tim