GRAUPNER 65 - Sailing; Sail trim; The various points of sailing

English
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innovation & technologie
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Sailing a model yacht is not difcult once you are familiar with the inter-action between the wind
direction, the boat’s heading and the appropriate sail settings. Before you sail the model for the rst
time, we recommend that you read all you can on the theory of sailing, e.g. by reading one of the
many books on the subject. The following section just provides a short, basic introduction to the
subject.
Sailing
The various points of sailing
A sailing boat can never sail directly into wind (black arrow (W)). In the 90° sector (dark grey area)
the sails will always ap about (shiver), and generate no forward thrust. Only when the boat bears
away to about 45° off the wind direction will it start to pick up speed with the sails close-hauled
(transition from dark grey area to light grey area (2a) to (2b)). This heading is termed lufng. A sai-
ling boat can only make head-way into the wind on this course and with the sails close-hauled; the
procedure is known as tacking, and involves sailing in a zig-zag pattern: for a while on the port tack
(mainsail on the left-hand (port) side of the boat (2a)), then, after going about (the boat’s bow turns
through the wind, from position (2a) via (1) to (2b)), for a while on the starboard tack (mainsail on the
right-hand (starboard) side of the boat (2b)), etc. Fast, efcient tacking with a sailing boat demands
a good eye and considerable manual skill, and ranks as the true art of sailing.
The other courses are not so demanding. If the wind is blowing from the side, the sails are slackened
(paid out) just to the point where they no longer shiver, i.e. around 30° to 45° relative to the boat’s
longitudinal axis. This course is known as sailing with wind abeam ((3a) wind abeam on the port bow
/ (3b) wind abeam on the starboard bow).
If the boat bears away even further (bearing away: the boat turns away from the wind, i.e. the stern
Sail trim
The headsail is in the densely retrieved state (mainsail about 12/5 ° amidships) must be set al-
ways more open than the mainsail, so its about 12 ° hauled, so that airow from the headsail not in
the mainsail, but on the back is directed. This varies depending on the wind and weather, and can
be adjusted by adjusting the pods and xing the cleats at either the wholesale or the jib boom.
If the boat does not keep its rate constant at a steady, gentle breeze and a slightly inclined position
(offense) on Halbwind-Kurs/Am-Wind-Kurs, the Riggtrimm not true, ie the common center of effort
needs to be changed. This is achieved, for example, by adjusting the mast tilt:
Situation / Behaviour Solution / Adjustment
Windward tendency (the boat tends to turn into the
wind by itself (it luffs up)).
Move the mast forward. That‘s where the second
pole position in the mast sleeve below. The mast
is used on the second position in the mast sleeve
forward. Then the mast plate readjusted. Here, the
mast should be vertical. For further made later then
the mast plate can be moved forward or backward.
Leeward tendency (the boat tends to turn away
from the wind by itself (it bears away)).
Insert the mast on the rst position, and tend to the
mast plate a little more laid back.
In general terms sailing boats offer their maximum performance if they have a slight windward
tendency. The optimum setting can only be established by experimenting; please bear in mind that
it also varies according to the weather conditions.
Caution!
a boat’s tendency to turn into or away from the wind is also affected by the sail settings; for
instance, if the mainsail is set too tight by the kicking strap, or if the foresail is set too close-
hauled or too far open.
!