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JosEpema
4 Posts |
 Posted - 28 May 2002 : 13:26:44
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I have some questions about setting up the Laser Stratos Keel. I own my Stratos # 380 since last October.
I have set up my Stratos Keel according to the rigging/tuning guide. I sail on open very choppy water. I feel that above 16 knots of wind (4Bft) the Stratos is not sailing up to its potential. The boat is sailed with trapeze in windy conditions.
In these conditions the boat is sailing at 6.5-7 knots upwind(good, nice these handheld GPS's), with a tacking angle of 100 degrees (not too good). The boat has a little bit too much tendency to luff to windward.
Questions:
- should I move the mast further aft, it is in the middle of the mastrail as indicated in the tuning guide
- should I give the mast much more rake, what positions for the main shrouds can be recommended, it is now in the 3 position from the top, the lower shrouds are in the 4th position
- how much tension is put on the jib halyard
- while sailing upwind, how much tension is put on the downhaul, the outhaul is as tight as possible
- the jib lead is in it's aft position to get twist in the jib
Any help and recommendations to get more speed out of this very nice little boat will be greatly appreciated and the best PR for the Laser Stratos is being fast on the water!
Thanks in advance and hope to get some expert advice from you.
Kind regards, Jos Epema, Netherlands
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BrianPearson
22 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2002 : 22:17:06
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Hi Jos
not sure if this helps but here is our experience in force 5.
We dont use the trapeze yet, so in these winds we find we are over powered upwind. We keep the jib in tight, but ease the main, with say only half the area driving.
Perhaps it is not tuning but simply the amount of power from the main? Before we have had a backstay to bend the rig, flatten the main, and free the leach. With this rig as we bend the mast, the leach will tighten.
What we found was that we could play the kicker as the gusts came through. So, sailing with the kicker in hand, uncleated, playing it about 1 foot in and out, worked well upwind. Hope someone can help with more knowledge of this type of rig.
Sounds like you are enjoying your Stratos keel too. Pleasde could post your downwind speeds in these conditions. We seem to be going very quickly with the gennicker up, but can only guess at what speed.
Regards.
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DavidShannon
45 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jun 2002 : 16:32:08
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Jos,
I find that the following helps keep the boat going in high winds - was caught out racing last week and was still upright in 25-30 knots (centre-board version). I have the rigging slack - second notch down - that way the rig can spill the wind to leeward, however with a heavy crew on the trapeeze you can counter act that by his weight pulling the past to windward at the point where the trapeeze enters the mast.
I was able to out point an RS400 and beat it to the windward mark, they were struggling with lack of crew weight.
I cant get the boat to point that well, a very experienced colleague reackons that is is because of the slot - ie the track is positioned further out - due to the boats breadth(beam). Thus not a lot can be done about that.
With regard to other tensions - as much as I can pull on the forestay to get it as tight as possible - thus the draught of the sail is as far forward as possible.
Full downhaul and kicker on the main to flatten it off - in so doing you also rake the mast back.
I then play the main sheet - when it is in tight the leach of the sail is closed but you only have to ease it a bit to twist off the top of the leach.
The trouble is it seems to work but I would dearly love to two boat tune with someone else in the South West - having great results - 2nd in Plymouth week and regular top three places during the weekly racing - but all other boats are much faster off the wind although I think the handicap seems to be good.
Has anyone else noticed that the trapeese cannot be used for class racing - why then was it an optional purchase - I think it is great upwind but too much hassle downwind.
Regards
Dave Shannon
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2002 : 15:20:52
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Like you I can't get the boat to point with the best (RS400s and RS200s) but also agree that it is due to the jib sheeting being too far outboard. Mast set up four holes down.
As to the trapeze I use it when I only have one son crewing (6 stone!) but it gets in the way with both sons (combined weight 13stone). Our local Sea Scout group have actually fitted a second trapeze to their Stratos!
Should the trapeze be allowed for racing? Well, as noted, I do for club racing however at Stratos meetings I think it should stay banned as a number of owners and crews are quite new to sailing and might be put off attending.
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ShaunGilder
21 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2002 : 12:17:01
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We have also found that in the medium to strong wind range the stratos (centreboad version)points quite well. We slacken off the rigging to two holes down and allow the jib tale tals to be on the very edge of lifting. Howwever, In light winds with the rigging at 4 holess down we ge reqularly get out pointed by Wayfarer's. does anyone if changing the mast heel position might make aq difference?
Cheers
Shaun
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ShaunGilder
21 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2002 : 12:52:43
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I'm not sure about what you are saying here? does that mean that you can use the trapeze in club racing, but not in class racing?????
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2002 : 13:56:27
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| I think strictly according to the rules the trapeze should not be used for racing at all. However given the size of son I do use the trapeze for club racing (after all it is mean't to be fun). |
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ShaunGilder
21 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2002 : 14:49:25
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This last weekend we were sailing in F5-F6 and decided to experiment with rig tension once again. This time we set the the upper and lower shrouds to five holes down on lower, and five holes down at the back on the upper. The tension was then put on tight but not too tight and we sailed away expecting to capsize in seconds. When the wind came up I pulled hard on the Kicker and kept the boom as close to the centre line as possible when beating. The boat was astonishingly easier to control than when we moved the shrouds up the plates in stronger winds the day before.
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Topic |
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Tuning the Stratos Keel for more than 16 knots of wind
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