Whenever i sail big boats i find that at the starts and upwind legs other users boats go faster than mine even in the same wind and tide. is it to do with those green bars in the top left of the screen and if so how do i use them to my adavantage??

Hey Pompey...

We (I?) are currently working on redesigning the SailX to make it more knowledgeable and user friendly...normally we'd have that kind of info easily accessible from there but not at the moment

There are many things you can do to go faster in big boats, but because I want to keep some of my secrets (and don't want to get tons of -Karma from all those who don't want me spoiling said secrets ) I'll give you the basics.


Tip: Adjust the green bars/red dots.

To adjust those, see below.

-To change your pointing angle (narrower or wider): PRESS CTRL-N (narrower) or CTRL-W (wider).

-To change your powering speed (slower acceleration but overall greater speed vs. faster acceleration but overall lower speed): PRESS CTRL-S (overall greater speed) or CTRL-P (faster acceleration).


You can adjust the green bars up until T=-75.0, in which they become locked and you cannot change them until the next time you race big boats.
You can adjust the red dots any time after T=-75.0.

Think of the green bars as on-the-shore settings: Shroud tension, forestay length, etc.
Think of the red dots as while-sailing settings: Pinching vs. footing, or having the #4, no spinnaker and 2 reefs in instead of a genny, 0.5oz spin and a full main

Hint: Full "N" (CTRL-N before and after t=-75.0) and Full "S" (CTRL-S before and after t=-75.0) are usually the defaults.


Now, as I said earlier, there are many more things you can do to go fast in bigs...having to do with the bars/dots, and boat handling in general...but the best way to learn that is to figure it out yourself


Enjoy your time here at SailX!

McG.




EDIT: hehe, 500th post!

Thanks so much McG for the help!

I use CTRL-W and CTRL-S!
wonder why i'm too good at bigs
better that McG for sure



bh.

PUP,

The other major thing is momentum. As keelboats weigh a lot, they have to be accelerated, both at the start and out of tacks. At the start, best to and accelerate for about 20 seconds, footed off on a reach or close reach. Before you tack, quick Ctrl-P for power, then tack and foot off (sail 10-20° lower than the green line). I then do Ctrl-S when close to target speed (i.e. the top speed you had on the last tack) and then space bar to go to the green line. You will also see the top guys 'scalloping' in every gust - in a gust or band of increased pressure, bear away to accelerate then back up to green line.

Thats too much in one go BN, let noobs learn themselves



bh.

CTRL-W rules ok!

DogWatch wrote:
.CTRL-W rules ok!

When I set it to Ctr-W (wide) it appears to be Rv 40,10. This makes it very difficult in starts when people go so narrow. So basically what I normally choose to do in this settings is to go either side of the start (depending on the favoured side).


What do you guys do in starts with the ctr-w settings?

PD: Is it really needed to put power in starts? IMO there is no need if you go with fine speed. Although I must agree about ''power'' when tacking.

Thanks,
333

333 wrote:
[quote].DogWatch wrote:
.CTRL-W rules ok!

When I set it to Ctr-W (wide) it appears to be Rv 40,10. This makes it very difficult in starts when people go so narrow. So basically what I normally choose to do in this settings is to go either side of the start (depending on the favoured side).


What do you guys do in starts with the ctr-w settings to avoid this conflicts?

PD: Is it really needed to put power in starts? IMO there is no need if you go with fine speed. Although I must agree about ''power'' when tacking.

Thanks,
333

yes guys settings are so good but i dont know how you do to go fast with bigs i try everything i try to do the same as you an nothing maybe bigs are not my boat lol i will like how to run with that boaat??

noguer wrote:
.yes guys settings are so good but i dont know how you do to go fast with bigs i try everything i try to do the same as you an nothing maybe bigs are not my boat lol i will like how to run with that boaat??

Hey noguer, go to the SailX wiki and have a look at the big boat page. It explains everything!

maybe another good example for big boat handling ;P

Be proud of that one Luksen!

By the way is that me overtaking you?

Very similar to one of my recent outings (I know its not big boat...sshhhh)

I sail full S and full N.
I will flick between 32 and 36 all the way through the race, as well as power in the pre-start, if I need it. Also sometimes when coming out of a tack.
Also, I only use the PgUp \ PgDn keys when sailing bigs. Not the arrow keys.


With my settings, your upwind boat speed will always be the same, relative to the wind.
The upwind boat speed is just under half the wind speed upwind. No matter what the wind speed is, your upwind boat speed is always going to be just under half the wind speed.

For example:
Wind speed: 10.00 kts
Upwind boat speed: 4.84 kts

This is VITAL knowledge.

So, to carry on from this:

Here is the quickest way to tack in bigs:

1. When you get to CHC, bear off to 55. This is 2 hits of the PgDn button when the boat is auto footing.
2. Get your boat speed a tiny bit above your polar (see above!!). No more than 0.3 kts in light breeze, then as the wind increases, add a bit more. But you'll never need any more than 1 kt over. 1 kt in 20+ kts.
3. When you are almost at this speed, head up straight away to CHC, by holding down / hammering PgUp button.
4. When you're about to reach CHC, hit SPACEBAR a few times to make sure you do not go above CHC.



These techniques have worked for a long time for me.
If you want to use them, do.
If you don't, don't.

+1 Frodo. I copied your tips to this wiki page: Big_boats
-PEB