I'me still trying to break that elusive 30kts barrier, and would like to ask how far downwind should I be pointing during gusts ?

Having a look at my session here http://www.gpsview.com.au/Session/SessionView/a739abf6-2099-4d74-b474-926eef22b10b

I seem to be going 15 or 20 degrees downwind.

Should it be more like 30? 45 ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Half wind equals 90 degrees. If on open water (what seems to be your case) you should be looking at an 130 to 145 degree angle. So that's 40 to 55 degrees downwind.

However you can't sail at these extreme angles all the time to reach top speeds. It depends on the wind strenght / sail pressure. Get the board riding loose, feel like flying on the fin. Wait for a gust (sail should feel overpowered!) and start steering downwind, this could feel tricky but just steer further downwind and you'll notice it will get easier. Try to keep some pressure in your sail. If you make a to large angle you'll notice your sail will loose all it's pressure just steer upwind a bit until you get some pressure back.

Looking at the speeds you're doing at the moment you'll def. go over 30kts!

It's a lot more than you think.
Keep looking at your tracks after a session and you will usualy see that even when you were aiming for an extra 45 degrees off the wind you were doing a lot less.

Yeah,

the advice from Tank is tops. Overpowered on beam reaches means powered up on broad reaches. I've only got over 30 knots a couple of times and doing so meant sailing broad when fairly overpowered. I'm not sure what angle and probably it doesn't matter.

Just hook in, aim downwind, and hold on!

Now where is that wind

Hey guys,
Many thanks for your advice.
From your responses it seems I need to bear downwind and just keep trying to go further and further.
Thanks Tank, at least I'll know when I've gone too far and the sail loses power - unless I lose it and wipe out long before then.

Roll on Summer. Can't wait.

The easiest way to determine if you are going deep enough is.... when you gybe, you *shouldn't* be able to sail back upwind to where you started from, ie: it should take you *at least* 4-6 tacks... usually *many* more.

And as others have said, you need to be somewhat overpowered on a beam-reach, so that you still have enough power to go deep.

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mathew said...

The easiest way to determine if you are going deep enough is.... when you gybe, you *shouldn't* be able to sail back upwind to where you started from, ie: it should take you *at least* 4-6 tacks... usually *many* more.

I'm really pleased to hear that. I thought taking four tacks to get back meant I was just bad at sailing up wind!

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Windxtasy said...

mathew said...

The easiest way to determine if you are going deep enough is.... when you gybe, you *shouldn't* be able to sail back upwind to where you started from, ie: it should take you *at least* 4-6 tacks... usually *many* more.

I'm really pleased to hear that. I thought taking four tacks to get back meant I was just bad at sailing up wind!

Not if you are down at the Estuary, just head on for a few more at the end of your run back at a sailable angle into the wind for a few clicks then head home a considerable amount more

All good advice. Generally for the average sailing conditions where you're not super lit up 120 degrees will suffice. The only time it's faster broader is when it's really flat and really windy. So windy in fact, that you're having trouble sailing at 90 degrees. In fact if it's almost impossible to sail at 90 degrees because it's just so windy or your sail is on the big side, go broad, at least 130 degrees. Enjoy.