Those contemplating..
Had my Ka7.1 race up like Martin, though all dialed in and full, was enough but had to pinch a little when wind would drop off a bit and then dig deep when you got a good gust to keep laying as much ground deep as possible. Was a slight increase in wind strength at St Kilda end, but not too much, and if you have your sail bagged out to start with, you will have room on your boom to outhaul it on the water if you feel the need.
Ricketts to Green Pt I did in one leg and threw in a couple of gybes just to pretend going thru Gate there. Back foot was sore by the time I past Sandy but pushed on a another leg to off St Kilda but gybed as I approached the obvious shipping channel markers. DO NOT enter the channel!!! Another gybe on inside off the obvious St Kilda Baths / Pallace Theatre at Sth end of Marina wall and out again. Final gybe off Nth of marina sea wall end and into the Zu though finish will be a bit further Nth away from Kites.
Trek across long beach with gear to Zu finished us off, needed a water as a bit hot with the helmut on.
Below is un-edited data from online Ka72 reader, includes a bit of a warm up run at Ricketts before we set off so actual total distance I sailed is 23 km in 33 min. I put in 5 slow gybes and slogged it a bit to get back on the plane, as your feeling pretty spent after a long leg gripping your boom.
2 Second Peak (kts):?30.23
5x10 Average (kts):?27.75
Top 5 5x10 speeds:?28.8
Top 5 5x10 speeds:?28.54
Top 5 5x10 speeds:?27.86
Top 5 5x10 speeds:?26.89
Top 5 5x10 speeds:?26.64
1 Hr (kts):?12.72
Alpha 500 (kts):?13.02
Nautical Mile (kts):?24.79
100m peak (kts):?29.13
Total Distance (km):?28.85
Tips/Safety
Don' sail out further than your prepared to swim your board downwind back to shore, know what your capable of.
Keep checking your view down wind thru sail and around front of mast for other craft on reach as you need to give way.
Beware the Mussel/Oyster? beds in Beaumauris bay if you happen to abort to Mentone /Charman Rd
Have your downhaul rope easily accessible eg so you can un-do it to de-rig in event of sea rescue. Some bases allow you to store it inside base before you connect to uni/cup, disconnecting such on the water is a challenge at times and hinders the rescue of you and others. Those familiar with self rescue and keeping your gear together as you do it or even in the event of a broken mast you want to get D'haul pressure off asap to save mast sleeve.
Self Rescue rough guide..
if you don't know self rescue try this in deep water...you are your best chance by being prepared, don't rely on others as trying to find someone up to their neck in rolling / chop / swell from a boat is not easy with out air support. And remember GPS/mob signals don't work all that well when submerged, so get back on your board once your sorted., store them in zip lock sandwich bag before putting them in waterproof case for added protection.
Remove boom first and tie its outhaul to back strap, undo cam zips if applicable, no need to disconnect base at any time, release D'haul, tie a few half hitches to mast with it to keep it on the base for now, go to head of sail and roll it up, thread sail thru Harness line/s, fix boom outhaul rope to sail clew and fix to rear strap again, thread mast top/bot' thru same H/lines, secure other end mast top/bot' with outhaul as well, throw boom/bundle over mast base onto deck. Stay with board in any case, ditch the rest if you have too, though a rashie stretched over the boom head can make a jury rig and or help rescue see you in rolling swell.
Practice sailing deep of the wind, try these tips..
-mast track back a little so you don't nose dive as much into backs of waves.
-boom slightly up and harness lines fwd' a little to help stance and trim of sail at right angle, also allows you to sit in the harness more and rest the arms a bit.
-back strap/s inbound a little to help with stance and fatigue.
-0.5-1m2 larger sail to be able to stay powered up off the wind
Good Luck!!!
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