myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
RS-X Uphaul use while sailing?
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
gschuel1



Joined: 04 Apr 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Narragansett, RI

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 6:43 am    Post subject: RS-X Uphaul use while sailing? Reply with quote

RS:X sailors at the RIO Olympics are holding on to what appears to be an uphaul with their front hand while sailing/planing. I am not familiar with this equipment and technique and couldn't find any info in the RS:X class rules or on the internet. Can someone please provide some background/theory on this ??


RX Uphaul.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  94.84 KB
 Viewed:  27160 Time(s)

RX Uphaul.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's an adjustable downhaul, so they can flatten the sail on upwind legs, then let it slack for a fuller sail on the downwind legs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
konajoe



Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They rig adjustable downhauls, but that's not it. The adjustable downhaul has a cleat, so you don't have to hang on to it.

They're hanging on to the uphaul to get their body in a position that makes it a more effective counterweight. One design racing is the pinnacle of getting every last ounce of performance out of your gear.

Notice that when they pump, they go back to both hands on the booms.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
boardsurfr



Joined: 23 Aug 2001
Posts: 1266

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

True that it's an adjustable downhaul, but that would not be a reason to hold it pretty much the entire time they sail (unless they are pumping). IIRC, Farah Hall said you get better upwind angles by holding the uphaul.

No clue why this works, but here are some theories that I can come up with:
- the body gets away further from the sail, creating a cleaner wind flow over the sail
- the angle of the upper body (as seen in the picture) creates a "wind wedge", directing wind into the sail
- it allows a more horizontal body position without having to pull the sail to windward more, which in turn reduces weight on the board and gives better leverage on the fin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, makes sense, what konajoe said. They also have adjustable outhauls, which I assume they use on fly much like formula, but do they use the adjustable downhauls on the fly? Maybe only when wind strength changes are significant?

Last edited by techno900 on Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:49 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Awalkspoiled



Joined: 21 Sep 2013
Posts: 44

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sailors’ center of mass is way further out and further back than would be possible holding on to the boom with the front hand. The force directed onto the board is directed more along and forward and less down and to the side. Years ago some of us fooled around with a handle mounted to the boom ahead of the harness lines, which offered similar advantages but with the inherent instability of ‘80s sails was not all that practical.

The picture in the post does look like the downhaul but these guys are in fact holding the uphaul a lot of the time. I think it’s mostly a Formula-derived technique but it’ll work whenever apparent wind is fairly constant. If you’re going really fast in comparison with the actual wind you can even jibe like this but that’s sort of a freestyle show-off rather than a practical racing skill.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
konajoe



Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My best guess is that the adjustable outhaul and downhaul are cleverly integrated. One pull on a rope probably increases downhaul and outhaul at a predetermined amount. Downwind, pop the rope to slack outhaul and downhaul at a pre-determined ratio.

I believe it's about getting out, not back farther. That can be done without using the uphaul.

You'll see the same body positions on the lasers, catamarans, etc.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is a technique for going up wind and planing through lulls. When sailing at Garda this summer I noticed many of the sailors using this technique and I noticed every rig I rented had a special handle on the top part of the up haul. I also noticed all the up hauls were stretched out as a side effect. When I talked Andy Brandt about the technique he told me the Olympic sailors use it to get as far away from the rig as possible. It works and we will now start teaching it as well.

Coachg
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pete1111



Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 193
Location: The Dude

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's done on upwind legs when the wind is marginal. By holding the uphaul you allow the sail to be more vertical = more power and getting your weight off the board by hiking further out makes more speed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
konajoe



Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll bet that it's not just marginal winds. In higher winds, which they probably won't get, it should work just as well. Hiking out is hiking out. But I also bet that you won't see it in sub-planing conditions. There it will be a 'both hands on the booms pump fest'.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group