Run 33 in very light conditions... skeg steering works a treat!

 

Hi all, well mother nature dealt us some nice cards over the last couple of days. In less than thirty hours we have set a new top speed, been forced to focus on a certain area... and then been given a very easy day to do so.
 In winds gusting to 15 knots and no more we hit speed-spot with the agenda of getting onto the skeg steering and trying it out.
It took me two shots to get Sailrocket 'unstuck' from the water trying all the tricks in the book. I only got going just past the timing hut and even then had to nurse Sailrocket to keep her going. Once 'up' I quickly shifted over to the hand steering which is linked to the 'skeg-flap' steering. It worked beautifully and was very natural. It had loads of power... maybe too much... once again, just like Malcolm predicted. I only hit 24.3 knots but focusing on outright speed wasn't todays issue.

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LIGHTWINDS FOR RUN 33 AS WE HEAD IN TOWARDS THE RED HOUSE, THE WALVIS BAY YACHT CLUB
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAGOON.

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COMPARE TODAYS SMOOTH AND CLEAN SAILING WITH...

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YESTERDAYS WILD RIDE!!!

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So what we have installed works well and I will be happy to try it out on a somewhat wilder ride. I would also be happy to reduce its effectiveness by reducing it's area. This could be easily achieved and I'll speak to Malcolm about it a little more first.

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THIS IS A PIC SHOWING A FEW OF THE MINOR BREAKAGES FROM YESTERDAY. VERY MINOR
CONSIDERING THE 'OFF-ROAD' NATURE OF THE RUN. A BROKEN SEAT AND A MISSING 'FENCE'
OFF THE SKEG. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE WHITE EPOXY FILLET WITH BITS OF CARBON STILL ATTACHED.
I'M HOLDING THE BIG LOW SPEED RUDDER WHICH I STEERED WIOTH YESTERDAY AT HIGH SPEED.
TODAY I STEERED WITH THE FLAP ON THE BACK OF THE SKEG WHICH RUNS DOWN THE TRAILING EDGE.
IT STARTS BEHIND THE EPOXY FILLET AND RUNS ALL THE WAY TO THE TIP. MR 'M' HAS ALREADY
FIXED BOTH COMPONENTS READY FOR TODAYS SAILING.

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HAPPY DAYS FROM THE DAY BEFORE. I'VE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT IT EQUATES TO 49.9998 MPH!

Cheers, Paul.

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