Australian International Moth Association#getamoth You know you want to |
Light Wind Sailing
Many helms believe that light winds are boring and offer no challenges. I'm sure that most sailors who excel in light airs have been told by their larger compatriots that light wind sailing is not 'real sailing' and to 'just wait until the breeze comes up'. Granted, as greater physical fitness is required to get a International Moth around a race course in 15-20 knots, but it is still just as imperative in light airs.
Concentration is probably even more important. An analogy I have used in the past to explain how unstable a modern Moth is that it is similar to riding a bicycle or being on ice skates, once you have some momentum it is easier to balance, but if you stop, you are prone to tipping over.
A fair hull and foils and easily adjustable systems is more important in light airs. But generally, slackness is the key to light air success. The rig tension should be slack to aid mast bend and rotation. Make sure that the rig has only a small amount of rake. The battens should be as flexible as is practical. All of you control lines should be relatively slack on all points of sailing, especially with pocket luff sails because they tend to hold their shape more than bolt rope sails and take longer to slacken off along the luff.
Adam May, the namerrer of the "May-Stick", wrote along time ago a Foiler Starting Guide This guide was meant to be part one of a series, however the rest have never been published. Chapter 1 covers: the basics of how it all works, wand system and cable linkage basics, 2005 foil dimensions and sections, setting up centreboard and rudder hydrofoil angles to get the correct angle of attack. The guide was written back in 2005, so it is starting to show it’s age, however it still is worth a read, and covers ground that anyone new to the class should think about.