An extra couple of knots?

[Shaun]

From: BigLofty4 (Original Message) Sent: 23/05/2005 12:56 AM
Good Evening All, I bought my Top Hat Mk 3 mainly for offshore cruising, and she is certainly good for that. However, recently I tried some Twilights and now a Winter Series (non-spinnaker) racing on Sydney Harbour. Problem is, we are coming well back in our division every race. The standing rigging is 18 months old, and I have set the tension on the shrouds. New furler and mainsail within the last 6 months. Hull clean last week. Are we to accept that a Top Hat will always make stately progress, and just settle for her many cruising charms? Or is there some dodge we can use to get a couple more knots in a race? The problem might be the crew of course! All suggestions welcome.
Cyril




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From: GiovDayman Sent: 23/05/2005 5:36 PM
I race one on Port Phillip Bay and they are slow because they are heavy.
The average quarter ton yacht now weighs between half and three quarter ton.
Top Hats are a truck load more. In heavier breezes they are better, but
will never keep up with a modern boat. If you are keen to race, empty it of
all the weigth you can to lighten it up and then pray for a good breeze. No
2 and full main or no 3 with a reef and they start to move along. But they
are slow to tack and then accelerate, so minimise the tacking up wind, get
the headsail poled out when you can down wind. Up wind in lighter breezes,
pull the main traveller up to weather and ease the pressure of the main
sheet to open up the leech.
try to get you head sail sheeting positions correct so you keep the leech
open on the headsail to help you point up wind.

I race a 4m one manyacht called an Impulse also and if you are into racing,
Top Hats will frustrate you a bit, but hang in there, it's good experience
and gets you out in the fleet. Learning how to get your boat sailing fast
is always a good thing.
Best of luck
John Dayman
Sombrero
RYCV R142




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From: BigLofty4 Sent: 24/05/2005 1:15 AM
John, Many thanks for your advice and encouragement. It will all be taken on board, so to speak. We do pole out the headsail when the opportunity presents itself, but as you suggest, we need to experiment with the main traveller and the headsail sheeting positions. I have been doing some work on board, so the various tools add to the weight and could be removed. Have you ever played with the rig tension on Sombrero? I have a Loos Gauge and have set the shroud tensions to 11% of breaking strain as suggested in their Manual for 5mm wire. Do you (or anyone else) have any recommendations on rig tension for Top hats?
Cheers
Cyril

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From: GiovDayman Sent: 24/05/2005 6:10 PM
The back stay does very little on a Top Hat. Only in use on proud runs.
The forestay shoul dbe tight enough to minimise sag when headsail is sheeted
on going upwind. The main side shrouds should have a couple of inches of
slack. Lowers should be fairly tight.
Pulling your mast back with the backstay rakes the mast aft and will make it
go better up wind. I have never really experimented with shrouds much after
they are set up. Heavy boats have more problems than shroud tension can
fix. As long as they are set to be fairly neutral, but tight, concentrate
on sail setting to get those extra few knots.
Cheers
John