Help!!Can someone give me an explanation for spin out? Here's the scenario:
Sherman Island, Sunday, May 31, 8'8" (265cm) board, on the verge
of being overpowered with a 5.7 sail, 11.5 inch pointer fin, trying
to go to windward pushing on the fin, weight forward in the harness
when suddenly, without warning, I'm going sideways.
... too much force on the fin with not enough speed.
Spinout occurs when the fin stalls, which means that the water is no
longer flowing smoothly over the fin. It's just like when an airplane
falls out of the sky when going to slow for the angle of attack. To get
things to work again you need to "reattach" the fin, that is get the
water to flow over it smoothly again. Slotted fins do this
automatically. Otherwise it's just like coming out of a waterstart and
needing to get the board moving the right direction. Sanding the
leading edge smooth can also have a dramatic effect in preventing
spinout by making the water flow more smootly over the fin.
There has been alot of discussion about learning to go upwind, so here's
a thread from the end of last summer on the topic
(bears.ece.ucsb.edu:/pub/windsurf/threads/upwind). I'm at the same point
as most folk asking about going upwind (i.e. dunk jibe master, walk
upwind on the beach). Rereading this thread seems to be helping me in
that I'm going upwind much better now that I've learned to get my weight
very far forward. Tomorrow (wind and grad advisor willing) I'll try
moving my mast track up a bit.
-- Jack
p.s. I love my True Ames weed fin. I hardly notice the kelp, and when it
spins out I deserved it.
p.p.s If someone wants to write a more concise FAQ then let me know.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1992 05:45:31 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: Sailing a short board upwind
Organization: HP Labs, High Speed Electronics Dept., Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Quote:
> Are there any tips on how to sail back up the wind? I appreciate that
> it is not possible to sail as close to the wind on a short board as it is
> on a long board but any movement upwind would be useful.
[ Maybe FAQ material... I asked this last summer and got some great help
here. ]
The most important thing is to keep your speed up so you plane well;
it's much harder (and less fun) to slog upwind. You must point up as
close to the wind as possible but maintain your plane. This often means
pointing closer and closer until you start to lose your plane, then
falling off (turning a bit downwind) to rebuild your speed.
The second thing is to let your board heel to leeward (that is, sink the
downwind edge a bit). This lets you use the whole leeward rail (well,
as much as is in the water) to provide lateral resistance instead of
just your fin. The problem I found was that heeling to leeward causes
your board to turn downwind (normal footsteering when planing). The
trick here is to rake your rig back towards the tail in order to move
the sail's center of force back, which tries to turn you upwind.
Balancing these lets you plane in a straight line with the board heeled
to leeward.
The last thing is to use the right fin. I learned to go upwind last
summer with the above techniques using a ~speed fin; I was amazed to
discover recently how much easier it is to go upwind with a slightly
larger pointer fin. The pointer, however, is too much fin for high
winds (5.0 or better), so I'm now changing between two fins on my 9'0"
board, depending on conditions; it makes it much more versatile.
A smaller issue is that in choppy water, you can increase your speed
and thus how high you can point by steering around the bigger waves
rather than just plowing over them.
Finally: practice, practice, practice...
When you do these things, the next thing you discover is spinout!
But that's another FAQ.
Ken "just the FAQs, ma'am" Poulton
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1991 16:51:32 GMT
Subject: Sailing Upwind Problems
Organization: Wyse Technology
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Distribution: usa
Well, slowly but surely I'm making good progress. Waterstarts are a snap,
as is getting in and staying in the straps. However, I"ve noticed that my
ability to go upwind is definitely below par as I frequently wind up
in the swin area at Coyote and often go kelp swimming in Santa Cruz.
I use an old 9'2" Seatrend with a nice slalom fin and a new semi-wave 8'10"
custom board with a slotted wave fin.
I know better than to blame my equipment, although I am thinking of getting a
nice big race fin just for the hell of it.
I need help, especially in lighter winds. When I am totally powered up I don't
seem to heve too many problems, but when the wind is lighter, the good sailors
go upwind, and I drift downwind.
Any tips on stance, rigging, etc... much appreciated.
Jim Munro
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1991 09:44:27 GMT
Subject: Re: Sailing Upwind Problems
Organization: HP Labs, High Speed Electronics Dept., Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Quote:
> Well, slowly but surely I'm making good progress. Waterstarts are a snap,
> as is getting in and staying in the straps. However, I"ve noticed that my
> ability to go upwind is definitely below par as I frequently wind up
> in the swin area at Coyote
Funny, I was noticing the exact same thing this afternoon. I sailed
upwind as much as I could (against the flood tide) for an hour and a
half on a mostly-powered 5.7 (9'0 CFX board, 11.5" Rainbow fin) and
still found myself sailing back though the corner of the swimming area.
That's better than walking back from the far downwind end of the swim
area (last month's problem) but not exactly ideal. I will note that on
an ebb tide, going upwind was easy, but I'd also like some upwind
pointers (so to speak).
Ken Poulton
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1991 15:42:34 GMT
Subject: Re: Sailing Upwind Problems
Organization: Shredding the water of SF Bay, HP-OCD
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
To sail up wind against a flood tide, I've found working on the following
progressive steps to work for me:
#1 Try moving your mast forward 2 inches or more. Move it back as you
get better.
#2 Stay on a plane, if you slow down bear off to build up speed and point
again
#3 stay in footstraps and rail the board leeward
#4 Keep the board ON THE WATER - jumping chop causes major spin-out unless
you turn downwind. (especially on fast, new epoxy boards 8=O ).
#5 Practice
.
.
.
#N Practice
-Kirk out
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1991 19:54:42 GMT
Subject: Re: Sailing Upwind Problems
Organization: Wyse Technology
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Quote:
>Funny, I was noticing the exact same thing this afternoon. I sailed
>upwind as much as I could (against the flood tide) for an hour and a
>half on a mostly-powered 5.7 (9'0 CFX board, 11.5" Rainbow fin) and
>still found myself sailing back though the corner of the swimming area.
>That's better than walking back from the far downwind end of the swim
>area (last month's problem) but not exactly ideal. I will note that on
>an ebb tide, going upwind was easy, but I'd also like some upwind
>pointers (so to speak).
I did not know until recently that the tides at Coyote Point
produce a significant current which can sweep you downwind pretty
fast. THis accounts fo the days when I just don't seem to be able to
go even SLIGHTLY upwind!
However, I still find myself significantly downwind of most decent
sailors under almost any circumstances.
Jim MUnro
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1991 00:42:20 GMT
Subject: Re: Sailing Upwind Problems
Organization: Olivetti Research California
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Quote:
> Funny, I was noticing the exact same thing this afternoon. I sailed
> upwind as much as I could (against the flood tide) for an hour and a
> half on a mostly-powered 5.7 (9'0 CFX board, 11.5" Rainbow fin) and
> still found myself sailing back though the corner of the swimming area.
> That's better than walking back from the far downwind end of the swim
> area (last month's problem) but not exactly ideal. I will note that on
> an ebb tide, going upwind was easy, but I'd also like some upwind
> pointers (so to speak).
One thing to keep in mind is that sailing close hauled, pointing
as high as possible, you will be going slower. This is the slowest
point of sail. I sail on a Tiga 280, 9'1" 115 liters, with a 10 3/4"
True Ames Race fin and 89 model Waddell Race Sails. I can get up wind
on Flood, Ebb and slack tides even when I cannot get on a plane. I sail
at 3rd Ave and Coyote Point.
You need to be able to "feel" the wind, not just point at some point
on shore. Practice pointing as high as possible and maintaining that angle
to the wind. If you are dropping off of a plane point a little lower. If
you are spinning out when going up wind try moving your mast track
farther forward. You should have a comfortable sailing
...
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