The GGR race, discussion and news

[ahun]

Originally Posted by GILow

I just found this on Gregor's FB page.

There's some kind of really deep lesson in this. Not sure what exactly.

I accidentally left my crocs on another boat at the beginning of my trip (10000+ miles), and ever since I am lucky. Ergo, having even a half pair onboard is unlucky.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by ahun

I accidentally left my crocs on another boat at the beginning of my trip (10000+ miles), and ever since I am lucky. Ergo, having even a half pair onboard is unlucky.

I don't know about that, I get pretty (emotionally) attached to my Crocs. I had one blow off the deck in Richards Bay. It was pretty windy but the toe rail was about 5" high (maybe it blew down the deck and went over the stern). Anyway, I had to sail all the way to the Caribbean without them - not good. It is funny to see how many cruisers wear Crocs. In some ports it seemed like close to 50%.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by AiniA

I don't know about that, I get pretty (emotionally) attached to my Crocs. I had one blow off the deck in Richards Bay. It was pretty windy but the toe rail was about 5" high (maybe it blew down the deck and went over the stern). Anyway, I had to sail all the way to the Caribbean without them - not good. It is funny to see how many cruisers wear Crocs. In some ports it seemed like close to 50%.

Well, Gregor has a spare. With luck he'll give it to you and you'll have a pair again.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by GILow

Well, Gregor has a spare. With luck he'll give it to you and you'll have a pair again.

When I lost my Croc I had to get rid of the other one. It was just too difficult to look at one lonely Croc and remember the good times. Also there would be questions of size, L/R, and colour - although a mismatched pair would be a fashion statement and good conversation starter.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by ahun

I accidentally left my crocs on another boat at the beginning of my trip (10000+ miles), and ever since I am lucky. Ergo, having even a half pair onboard is unlucky.

Wow, imagine how much worse it could have been for Gregor if he hadn't lost that croc!

[JPA Cate]

He's gutted because he decided to abandon the boat. It can be a real hard decision to make, to give up on the race when you told yourself you would at least finish; he's giving up a dream that mattered to him. Of course he feels gutted. He also probably feels guilty for feeling relieved. Poor guy.

Glad everybody's okay -- so far.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

He's gutted because he decided to abandon the boat. It can be a real hard decision to make, to give up on the race when you told yourself you would at least finish; he's giving up a dream that mattered to him. Of course he feels gutted. He also probably feels guilty for feeling relieved. Poor guy.

Glad everybody's okay -- so far.

Ann, I'm not sure you read that post correctly. (Note the date.)

[JPA Cate]

You're right, Matt. I did not look at the date, and I mistook him for Gerhard.

Ann

[Don C L]

A little tangent, but can I ask a dumb question? I see boats dropped out from vane issues. On these boats with transom hung rudders, what's wrong with vane-to-trim tab self steering?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Don C L

A little tangent, but can I ask a dumb question? I see boats dropped out from vane issues. On these boats with transom hung rudders, what's wrong with vane-to-trim tab self steering?

I don't think any of the boats with transom hung rudders had trim tabs on the rudders. In retrospect that might have been wise, but not something I'd care to fabricate while under way.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by GILow

I don't think any of the boats with transom hung rudders had trim tabs on the rudders. In retrospect that might have been wise, but not something I'd care to fabricate while under way.

Oh yeah, no, I meant why not start with one?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Oh yeah, no, I meant why not start with one?

Oh, right, sorry.

Yes, why not indeed? Jim noted the limitations, but I'm an options kind of guy (currently building a trim tab activated auxiliary-rudder wind vane to supplement my electronic auto pilot) and that would have been a great option.

One of the members here on CF has been playing with the trim tab that was fitted to his boat's transom rudder when he bought it and has had some good results with a ram style autopilot fitted to it. I was going to chat to him about the logical next step of fitting a wind vane to it when we caught up next. Hopefully my windvane will be working by then to help motivate him.

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Oh yeah, no, I meant why not start with one?

If the rudder and trim tab get damaged or lost, you've lost your self-steering as well. If you improvise a jury rudder it's much easier to do so without a trim-tab, I'd guess.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Don C L

A little tangent, but can I ask a dumb question? I see boats dropped out from vane issues. On these boats with transom hung rudders, what's wrong with vane-to-trim tab self steering?

As a back up it makes some sense, but in general, trim tabs don't steer as well downwind in big seas as do servo pendulum gears... and that's where they thought they would be most taxing the steering gear. At least that's my thought on the matter.

Jim

[Peter Foerthman]

Originally Posted by Don C L

A little tangent, but can I ask a dumb question? I see boats dropped out from vane issues. On these boats with transom hung rudders, what's wrong with vane-to-trim tab self steering?

No dumb question at all ! Its the lever that counts ... the longer the more powerful ... and the evolution of wind vane steering show that the earlier trim-tab units were unable to provide higher steering forces.

Just compare the 12 existing types of wind vane and compare the appropriate lengthen of lever for example trim-tab against servo pendulum system:

http://www.windpilot.com/n/wind/en/tipp/wahl/

http://www.windpilot.com/n/wind/en/tipp/verg/

Peter Foerthmann
Windvane politics | Windpilot Blog EN