As a new. starter to Radio Sailing, I’m just starting to wrestle with understanding how the radio kit works, what the basic components are, what we use in sailing.
Most of the material I found on the web about the radio transmitters is produced mainly for airplanes, helicopters and drone – all way more complex than radio sailing.
Here’s a great video I came across explaining what we radio sailors need to know….
Fantastic day’s racing at the Club on Sunday. Pretty blowy at times and we had the B Rigs on, in general. Marbleheads were at their most thrilling! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it! The most fun you can have with your socks on !!
Report from The Fleet Captain follows :-
This Weekend’s Marblehead results:
Another great days racing in B & C rigs with 7 boats and 9 races completed. I will do a report for MYA Downwind later.
1st Rohan 11pts, 2nd David 12, 3rd Nigel 19, 4th Phil 22, 5th Les 33, 6th Richard J 35, 7th Graham 37.
Next Marblehead Series Race Session is on 20th.
On Wednesday 23rd there is an evening barbecue at the club, we will be having early evening racing (Marblehead’s) starting at 1700hrs followed by barbecue. Let me know if you are interested and book your place in the barbecue.
Racing a modern day marblehead is exciting and exhilarating. They are fast and have a presence on the water…
But if you are wondering why every time you tack you are slow through the tack, that you are loosing ground. we need to think about rudder control !
Such a simple thing, but something that cannot be emphasised enough. With these big boats, speed is key and as we know the rudder acts as a giant brake. It’s all to easy in the excitement to slam over onto another tack – or to force the boat over only to end up in irons ….something that l was doing all to regularly until l was shown how to manoeuvre my boat properly !!
The key is small rudder inputs and time. The boat can glide from one tack to another. It just needs patience and practice from the operator – treat her like the lady, softly and gently. You will find you are able go through the tack with out ending up in irons. You will do it maintaining speed.
The next thing that’s also important is sheet control. Once you pass head to wind you should ease the sails slightly, build speed, then sheet in. These might seem basic but need practicing so we can gain that much needed lead.
Happy tacking:)
RW
Datchet Radio Sailing - Making It All Much Easier !! 