TWA vs. AWA

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by rapscallion, Jul 7, 2012.

  1. rapscallion
    Joined: Oct 2006
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    Location: Wisconsin

    rapscallion Senior Member

    I was hoping to get some advice on multihull sailing.. I have been racing monos for a while, so I thought stepping into a multi would be easy.. Multi sailing is great fun, but requires a new set of skills.. One thing I'm having a trouble with is telling where the wind is coming from.. If I'm going dowmwind at 14 knots in a 10 knot breeze my apparent wind angle is very different from my true wind angle... This makes calling laylines harder than they were in a monohull.. How do multi guys compensate for this?
     
  2. cavalier mk2
    Joined: Mar 2010
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    I get the wind direction by watching the effects of the wind on the water. The waves and ripples will tell you where it is coming from. Learning your boat's polar performance curve will help you determine the most effective upwind and downwind tacking angles.
     
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  3. RHough
    Joined: Nov 2005
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    RHough Retro Dude

    Excellent! Back to basics. Well done.
     
  4. edvb
    Joined: Mar 2008
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    edvb Junior Member

    Yes same here. I lost my daggerboard a few weeks ago and was able to repair a shorter one to work with my layout. I felt that with my compass and knotmeter I was able to determine a 80 degree tacking angle when slightly pinched. Not good but not bad for an outrigger sailing canoe. I was able to go in circles around most monohulls so it seems the length of the daggerboard is pretty close. Sometimes it is just the seat by my pants approach but with a couple of devices can make it much more accurate.
     
  5. oldsailor7
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    oldsailor7 Senior Member

    A masthead wind indicator is a "must have" piece of equipment.
    It tells you where the true wind is coming from when you are hove to, or pointing up into the wind.
    At all other times it tells you the apparant wind.
    After some practice it tells you when you are sailing at your best angle to windward.
     
  6. cavalier mk2
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    cavalier mk2 Senior Member

    Thanks Rhough....The basics are where to start.....Marples has a beercan masthead wind indicator plan Paddy. The fun is in emptying the can!
     
  7. edvb
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    edvb Junior Member

    He has a masthead float that works fine as a masthead wind indicator.
     
  8. oldsailor7
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    oldsailor7 Senior Member

    I like Cavs best. ----Hic:
     

  9. rapscallion
    Joined: Oct 2006
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    Location: Wisconsin

    rapscallion Senior Member

    Gonna work on downwind polars today. I raced yesterday, and it appeared the downwind gybing angles are close to the upwind tacking angles in medium air. Heavy air the angles get deeper. using a compass and knotmeter to figure out where the wind is.... Is a new concept for me... It is a fun problem to have :)
     
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