Load Balance ...

[MSN-Travelers]

I crew on a Pearson Flyer (30 footer). We have done pretty well over the last few years in Jib `n Main so we moved up to the spinnaker division this year. Our overall performance was rather disappointing.

We have three Pearson Flyers that race regularly at out club. One in JAM, one in spinnaker and us. We were always on the stern of the JAM boat. This year we can barely keep the spinnaker boat in sight far ahead of us.

The skipper has replaced the baggy main with hi-tech. The sail maker has been out to tune the rig and we are using a barber haul to adjust the slot (the other boats have dual genny tracks).

I have noticed that the other boats seem to position crew differently than us on any given tack. Our people head for the high side (or low) to control/induce angle of heel but we don't do anything regarding positioning crew fore or aft. I think correcting this failure might be a key to better overall performance.

Are there any “general rules” on where to position crew (fore or aft) on any given tack?

[jackdale]

I have been on boats where the fore aft balance is crucial. One had an inclinometer mounted to measure the fore / aft plane. We moved aft to balance when the spinnaker was up. We would also get leeward weight when in light airs to get some heel and to keep the main over. Give it a try - and measure your boat speed after moving crew around.

[Sailor Tim]

Right or wrong, I can only tell you that my skipper hates weight forward.
The bow man (or in our case woman) is the lightest crew member available.
She only goes forward of the mast when necessary; rig chute, jibe pole, etc...

[Giulietta]

weight is very crucial in any boat...actually in ALL boats.

There are several rules of thumb..admitting you know that shifting weight on the boat is illegal, the onyl weight allowed to shift is that of the crew..

the golden rule is this..the more the crew moves, the slower you will sail..loading changes affect boat CoG and CoE, by changing the relationship between both..

So once you are trimmed for a certain condition don't move..I have seen crews that sail with a lot of Show..and pose for photos, but hardly go anywhere..look at most high end sailoing boats, you don't see guys all over the place..(except when needed)...and everyone that is not being used either goes on top of the cabin, aft or rail..

the idea is simple...if beating into the wind, you need to shift the weight as far forward as possible (note that Tim's example may not be when beating, certain boats have low flotation capabilities on the bow, and crew forward sinks the boat forward, and the mast tits forward, as a consequence, which will increase lee helm and cause the rudder to drag to compensate)...HOWEVER..the idea is not to pass forward of the shrouds.

downwind, and wih spinnakers, the crew also needs to move, in this case aft..

The idea is simple..the more vertical the mast is, the better the boat sails..so weight on the side corrects side roll, crew forward and aft correct pitch..

If you go downwind, the bow wants to submarine and the mast wants to go forward..(which spills wind), so you need all weight aft, and ossibly raise the spi tack to help the sail lift the bow. (assuming you are doing this already)..yes..the spinnaker can lift the boat's bow..see photo bellow.

If you go upwind, the bow wants to lift, and the mast wants to go aft too much..so you correct my shifting the weight forward...

Hope it helps

Alex

[rgscpat]

Although you can't move "stuff" during a race (movable ballast), and you can't move some items or remove them from the boat because of class rules or handicap system rules, most racers know that moving gear that has to remain aboard toward the fore-and-aft center of the boat before racing is usually a Very Good Thing.

[RocinantePT]

I'm going to install a 100L water tank on my bow (which is now a 25L in the stern).
Speaking mostly about cruising, should I fill it up during crosses? The boat weights 1800kg, so a full tank represents 5% of the total weight...
I'm mostly concern with stability, not performance in this case.

[Giulietta]

no problems

100Kg is just going to be the weight of a person, shift some towards the back
Alex

[RocinantePT]

I'm already very loaded in the back... My question is: should I go with an nearly empty or filled tank? Will the full tank give me more stability, at the cost of performance?
Can I just use a level bubble to check weight distribution? Is this just a irrelevant thing that only matters for races?

[Giulietta]

shouldn't sail with tank full and no, it will not give you more stability..its the opposite.

Water ballast is a differnet concept than adding a tank of water above the CofG