Oldest OK ?

[Deleted]

I am aware this is a racing forum and I'm too old and heavy to start in the sport now.

I have a timber boat, AK 106 built by Jim Sue in 1967 and raced in the nationals at Bramble Bay that year.

I use it for cruising with other wooden boat enthusiasts but its obviously not ideal for that purpose. (can't carry an esky)

My priorities are:
not falling over and
getting back to the ramp, even if the wind drops.

I have read the discussions about sail controls on this forum and elsewhere- only to get more confused.

My questions are;

at 110 kg,how much Vang should I use?

When does the traveler go out to the end and when should I keep it in tight?

I don't have problems in a moderate/stiff breeze, but in light winds I seem to lose steerage can't go upwind at all.

PS if there are any old timber spars up for grabs, mine are very patched and probably not long for this world.

Thanks.

[Deleted]

Congratulations on keeping an old OK alive!

There would not be a lot of timber spars around any more. There are lots of aluminium rigs that you could probably get for nothing, but that might not go down too well with your fellow wooden boat enthusiasts!

While the technology has changed a bit, the principles are probably about the same, so to answer your questions:

How much vang? Upwind, let it go completely or you won't get under the boom. The mainsheet and traveller should do all the work. Let it off all the way to gybe as well. Reaching and running, in theory pull it on until the telltales stream evenly but let's face it, you are going for a cruise with a wooden mast so just pull it on until the boat feels controllable.

Traveller: common beginners mistake is to try to centre the boom. This is only good for going sideways, as you may have discovered. The boom end should be roughly over the gunwhale until you can't hold the boat down any more, and then progressively further out as it gets really windy. Have a look at the photo at this link - this is as far in as the boom should ever be:

picasaweb.google.com/AUSOKDINGHY/Nationals2008Thursday#5155086557325775954

good luck!

[Deleted]

Thanks aus623 that is most helpful.

I have no trouble holding the boat down - until the breeze comes up, I have to cringe in the cockpit, or sit on the rear deck, which isn't ideal for trim.