This chap has forgotten more than most will ever know about driving a boat fast. He is generous with this knowledge and a real gentleman. One of the very best in the UK.
At first I thought........oh another bumbling old bloke.....and then I realised........he's explaining all this SOoooooo much better than I have ever heard before. Brilliant!!!
you obviously did not look up the mans credentials prior to watching the video probably he most extensive treatment of sail form available in layman terms. Would have been great to have the end on view of the mast but very effective what we do have.
He won the Worlds, again, this March (2022) in Florida. (I and my skipper were 20th out of 34 spinnaker boats, which is good for a first appearance, one season together)
Wonderful talk, thank you! Three questions: 1) Michael spoke at length about changing the leech tension on the jib to optimize telltale position--but it seems as though he was mainly referring to jib sheet adjustments. If the bottom telltale is flowing but and the top telltale is stalling, wouldn't it be best to alter the twist of the jib by changing the sheeting angle at the traveller car? (apologies if I misunderstood the point) 2) When a two-handed dinghy is getting overpowered by a gust on the beat (or steadier squall wind, despite depowering the controls) such that some wind must be spilled to reduce heel--which of the two sails should preferentially accomplish this? Both? Or should the jib remain close hauled and the main do all the trimming/spilling? 3) How do you optimize the mainsail traveller settings on a boat with a moving traveller car (like the Johnson 18 that we sail)? Many thanks,
My yacht usually sails slow in light wind and faster in stronger winds. So if i want to go faster i don't bugger about with sail trim, i just wait for more wind. Usually i wait in the bar area.
One thing that was glossed over that I'd like clarity on is when the boom should be off the center line. He mentioned using the kicker more when the boom is off center but did not say when or how (mainsheet? or traveler?) to let it off center and by how much. Anyone know the answers?
When the boom is on or near the center line (close haul, close reach) the main sheet exerts downward force on the stern end of the boom and causes the leach tension to increase. When on beam reach/broad reach/run the mainsheet is not able to apply such a large downward force because the mainsheet leaves the hull at a slanted angle. I believe it is in this condition that Mike says only the kicker can be used to exert downward force on the boom.
yes they do, except larger keelboats usually have a genoa instead of a jib and there are cars to have extra control over the shape of the headsail. also the mast shape and forestay tension are controlled with the backstay tension on larger boats. The basic aerodynamic principles apply all the same though.
@@xquizit79 I just watched John Bertrand this year sailing Etchell 22's in Australian Championship. Downwind with spinnakers the crew were definitely heeling the boat to windward. Which does not square with the video (or with your endorsement of the video) that the boat wants to be symmetrical (or nearly so) at all times for best speed. The Etchell's sailors were obviously going for asymmetry when presenting the hull to the water..
Would be nice to watch something like this for a stayed singlehander, rules are a little different and it seems single handers are becoming more dominant in the UK sailing scene
Well it is all explained through knowing the Navier Stokes equations and Bernoulli equations. Better still get in a boat and move about and trim all you can and you can feel all the improvements by the seat of your pants. Look at the back of the boat and watch the back wave and the further away is the peak of the back wave from the transom , the faster you go. Of course if one applies all this wonderful gentleman is pointing out, well then one will win competitions with other sailors.
Ya, and asymmetry isn't the problem he described in most boats: it's part of the design. And air doesn't "squeeze" between the jib and main (main will backwind before it squeezes anything). But this is 99% pure gold.
Basically, yes! More so kicker (kicking strap) in the UK and vang in the US but the terms are used interchangeably. It's the device that puts downward force (and sometimes upward - depending on the type) into the boom to maintain the shape of the mainsail. Some more detail for you here: www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/boat-handling-sail/Pages/trimming-the-mainsail.aspx
Too technical for my lack of understanding. This fella sounds knowledgeable and I’m sure he is, but it;s wasted on me. I wish I was able to make use of the information he gives so freely, but I’m not. Thank you for the vid anyway.
This guys clearly knows jack about actual aero- and hydrodynamics of a sailboat and is merely repeating all the myths and misconceptions that have evolved through experience.
Well maybe the proof of what Michael knows is by the number of championships he has won - probably one of the most unsung success stories in sailing dinghy history.....perhaps you would like to borrow the Hornet Class boat for the championship 2019 and if Mike is there see how well you fair against him and other sailors of similar caliber? Sometimes the actual feel of what goes on in a changing environment is much more important that the theories....remember you have at least two dynamics operating all the time, but each of those mentioned is not a static force and the relationship between both is changing constantly, which is why just theory on its own doesn't give full understanding of the situation :-)
One of the finest instruction on sail trim. Very , very important for better sailing. God be with this man.
One the finest instructors when it comes to the proper usage of sails and trimming.
Which god would you suggest?
This chap has forgotten more than most will ever know about driving a boat fast. He is generous with this knowledge and a real gentleman. One of the very best in the UK.
Simon Ruffles i
knowledge and teaching ability are 2 different thing! do you understand that. do u!
I was there, never made it into shot. I met Mike a couple of times, he a great sailor, sailmaker and communicator.
At first I thought........oh another bumbling old bloke.....and then I realised........he's explaining all this SOoooooo much better than I have ever heard before. Brilliant!!!
you obviously did not look up the mans credentials prior to watching the video probably he most extensive treatment of sail form available in layman terms. Would have been great to have the end on view of the mast but very effective what we do have.
Mike is a legend. His every word is worth a metre on the race course.
Excellent presentation. Every time I listen to Mr. McNamara I get another nugget to help me go faster. Thank you.
Very good. Thank you
better watch this one twice. it's good
Thank you. What a great presentation and thank you RYA.
Very passionate and such depth of knowledge, thank you!
Been sailing since 7 years old and never got in depth about how the sails work, this video explained alot
WOW,WOW,WOW! Stunning!
That's a great video! I watched it several times and I learned a lot! looking forward to try this knowledge on my laser 2 regatta!
There's lots of videos out here about tuning your rig. This is a great video that explains (in great detail) of why. Thanks Michael. Great video.
Thank you for the very precise and clear explanation of the different tools we´ve got to modify sail shape and improve sailing conditions.
This would be so much more informative with proper camera angles.
He won the Worlds, again, this March (2022) in Florida. (I and my skipper were 20th out of 34 spinnaker boats, which is good for a first appearance, one season together)
Wonderful talk, thank you!
Three questions:
1) Michael spoke at length about changing the leech tension on the jib to optimize telltale position--but it seems as though he was mainly referring to jib sheet adjustments. If the bottom telltale is flowing but and the top telltale is stalling, wouldn't it be best to alter the twist of the jib by changing the sheeting angle at the traveller car? (apologies if I misunderstood the point)
2) When a two-handed dinghy is getting overpowered by a gust on the beat (or steadier squall wind, despite depowering the controls) such that some wind must be spilled to reduce heel--which of the two sails should preferentially accomplish this? Both? Or should the jib remain close hauled and the main do all the trimming/spilling?
3) How do you optimize the mainsail traveller settings on a boat with a moving traveller car (like the Johnson 18 that we sail)?
Many thanks,
COOL. some details with the jib I didn’t know. Ah ha moments
My yacht usually sails slow in light wind and faster in stronger winds. So if i want to go faster i don't bugger about with sail trim, i just wait for more wind. Usually i wait in the bar area.
For a cat rigged Mc scow would you consider the main more like a jib?
Can you run a session on tuning the optimist sail too?
THE rudder to lee lifts THE aft
How would it work on a single sail boat? Where would the point where trouble occurs be?
One thing that was glossed over that I'd like clarity on is when the boom should be off the center line. He mentioned using the kicker more when the boom is off center but did not say when or how (mainsheet? or traveler?) to let it off center and by how much. Anyone know the answers?
When the boom is on or near the center line (close haul, close reach) the main sheet exerts downward force on the stern end of the boom and causes the leach tension to increase. When on beam reach/broad reach/run the mainsheet is not able to apply such a large downward force because the mainsheet leaves the hull at a slanted angle. I believe it is in this condition that Mike says only the kicker can be used to exert downward force on the boom.
Watch the schitzofranic tell tail
So this clearly geared towards dinghies, but do the same principles apply to larger, say 10m keelboats with a 7/8 fractional rig?
yes they do, except larger keelboats usually have a genoa instead of a jib and there are cars to have extra control over the shape of the headsail. also the mast shape and forestay tension are controlled with the backstay tension on larger boats.
The basic aerodynamic principles apply all the same though.
@@xquizit79 I just watched John Bertrand this year sailing Etchell 22's in Australian Championship. Downwind with spinnakers the crew were definitely heeling the boat to windward. Which does not square with the video (or with your endorsement of the video) that the boat wants to be symmetrical (or nearly so) at all times for best speed. The Etchell's sailors were obviously going for asymmetry when presenting the hull to the water..
Would be nice to watch something like this for a stayed singlehander, rules are a little different and it seems single handers are becoming more dominant in the UK sailing scene
Well it is all explained through knowing the Navier Stokes equations and Bernoulli equations. Better still get in a boat and move about and trim all you can and you can feel all the improvements by the seat of your pants. Look at the back of the boat and watch the back wave and the further away is the peak of the back wave from the transom , the faster you go.
Of course if one applies all this wonderful gentleman is pointing out, well then one will win competitions with other sailors.
Very good but some of this is specific to type. For example my yacht sails faster when heeled as it lengthens the LWL.
Ya, and asymmetry isn't the problem he described in most boats: it's part of the design. And air doesn't "squeeze" between the jib and main (main will backwind before it squeezes anything). But this is 99% pure gold.
Hogwarts for sailing
kicker = vang?
Basically, yes! More so kicker (kicking strap) in the UK and vang in the US but the terms are used interchangeably. It's the device that puts downward force (and sometimes upward - depending on the type) into the boom to maintain the shape of the mainsail. Some more detail for you here: www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/boat-handling-sail/Pages/trimming-the-mainsail.aspx
op’en bic squad raise yalls hands 🤚🏼
✋I have a 10 cm scar on my leg sailing in 25knot wind with o'pen bic
Awesome camera angle. Can't see anything.
If you can't measure 5° buy a motor boat.
Your opening statement, was enough to make me ditch this video. Should have known better than watch anything covered in RYA branding.
???
Too technical for my lack of understanding. This fella sounds knowledgeable and I’m sure he is, but it;s wasted on me. I wish I was able to make use of the information he gives so freely, but I’m not. Thank you for the vid anyway.
This guys clearly knows jack about actual aero- and hydrodynamics of a sailboat and is merely repeating all the myths and misconceptions that have evolved through experience.
Well maybe the proof of what Michael knows is by the number of championships he has won - probably one of the most unsung success stories in sailing dinghy history.....perhaps you would like to borrow the Hornet Class boat for the championship 2019 and if Mike is there see how well you fair against him and other sailors of similar caliber? Sometimes the actual feel of what goes on in a changing environment is much more important that the theories....remember you have at least two dynamics operating all the time, but each of those mentioned is not a static force and the relationship between both is changing constantly, which is why just theory on its own doesn't give full understanding of the situation :-)