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[Blackadder]

Hello! 

I'm tjm I am 11 and I got a Wee Nip model boat for Christmas.However I am having a few problems.
    In strong wind my boat seems to struggle when I am tacking, it seems to get pulled into the wind and can only get out if you let the sail out.but if I do that I loose power and then get dragged into the wind again.
    Is there anything I can do apart from move the sail backwards (It is already all the way)?

tjm    

[wartsilaone]

These boats are quite hard to handle at the best of times. The problem with these types is there is no foresail to balance the mainsail which means the boat gets dragged into the wind and as soon as this happens you lose headway and control. I've never had an RC version so don't  really know what to suggest apart from adding a foresail which might not be possible. Keep practising, it may be you a bit more experience. I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be a way to put in a reef on the sails on model yachts, basically putting in a fold at the bottom of the sail and tying it down reducing the size of the sail. I'm sure there will be someone here who can help.

Ali.

   

[pugwash]

I am no expert at sailing model boats like some on here but from sailing full sized boats if you do not have
sufficient speed when you attempt to tack through the wind you will end up in irons (stuck head to wind)
It is possible that this type os small yacht is not suitable for strong wind conditions and is getting overpowered.
Do you have the same problem tacking when there is not so much wind??

Geoff

[dreadnought72]

One option, tjm, is to sail her a bit freer - more off the wind - when close-hauled, in order to keep her speed up. When it's time to tack, briskly put the rudder over and her momentum might be enough to carry her through the wind to the other tack.

Andy

[pasty]

Going along with te comments above it does sound as though the mast needs going forward, because you said the mast is already in the rearmost hole.
If in normal strength wind the boat keeps heading up into the wind whilst going windward, the mast needs moving forward. Basically you want the boat to sail in a straight line with your hands off the controls and the rudder centralised. It should just point up now and again then correct itself. If the boat then starts going away the wind hen going windward, the mast then moving back one hole.
Also look at e mainsail twist, can be altered by lifting the boom i think. If their is too much twist, this can cause the boat to screw up. In stronger winds you want to flatten the sails a bit.
Used to sail swingrigs, these had a similar problem, one design i know of actually has its smaller rigs moved forward an inch to improve its tacking. Also agree about increasing its speed just before the tack. Also if their is waves, tack on the crest of the wave.
If your boat still seems to be sailing at an angle of 30 degrees or more the majority of the time, it will be worthwhile making a smaller suit, keep the same bottom length (foot) but reduce its hieght by about 20% (luff length). It won't need a bit reduction in area to improve its performance. Just mneed to drop the center of effort a bit.
But overall it does seem to be a mast posiition problem.

[andrewh]

tjm,

All the previous comments are true.

I have this same problem with Footies - which are even smaller and FWIW this is why and what to do about it

Problem:  if you are tacking when close-hauled (this is the worst problem)
A) the boat is slow and has low momentum
B) the boat is probably heeled over - so the rudder is less effective, as well as acting like an elevator
C) there may be a balance problem (mast tooo far rearward)

Answers:  one or more of these WILL work
A)  If the boat won't tack successfully - don't tack.  Gybe instead.  Its a longer way round but will (nearly) always work
B)  As dread'72 sez don't tack from close-hauled:  Loosen the sheets a little and bear off the wind a couple of notches beffore tacking.  This has several virtuous results - you heel less, so the rudder grips the water.  The boat is going faster so the rudder has better effect.  And the boat has more speed and momentum so is less likely to hang in irons
C)Move the mast forwards, or sail.  if the center of pressure of the sail is too far back, it will ALWAYS try to turn the hull up into the wind (just like a windsurfer)  So moving either the mast, or the sail or the centre of pressure forward will help and reduce this weather-cocking.  If, for instance you are able to wrap the sail round the mast a couple of times you will have done just the right thing - as well as reducing the area
D)maKE sail to suit the conditions!  Try making it in shopping-bag plastic - then you will not lose much if is not beautiful or successful.  Make it lower and smaller and see if it helps

Hope this is useful - please let us know how you get on - there have been several Wee Nip builders writing on this forum - thay may add lots of good ideas
 
andrew

[wartsilaone]

Andrew, I think you have just about covered it all. It's the basics of sailing whether it be models or the real thing.

Ali.

[tigertiger]

Welcome aboard TJM

Andrewh has covered it all.

But the main difficulty is caused by only having one sail. This is the same for real boats with only one sail.
The second thing is strong winds, even with two sails strong winds can cause this problem.

The best thing to do is plan ahead, and gybe (wear) that means do a 3/4 turn in the opposite direction to tacking. This is what a lot of the old sailboats had to do in strong winds.
I have to do this in strong winds with my sail boats with two sails.

[rmaddock]

Hmmm...

Well thank you everyone I will take all of this into consideration.Thanks particularly to Andrew for summing it up so nicely.
    I must say that I did make a mistake in putting the sail all the way backwards.
Also my father thinks that we will join the model boat club in Barrow in Furness.   

Many thanks,
TJM

[brianc]

Andrew has summed it up quite nicely.
You could do a lot worse than contacting the guy who runs this site.
http://sites.google.com/site/theweenip/Home

There is`nt much he does`nt know about nips

I`ve had a Nip out in winds so strong,  she was burying her nose in, right back to aft of the mast..great stuff 

[triumphjon]

after an altrication with a steel post mine has been modified , from what started as a standard kit into what i sail daily ! my mast is now 1/4 inch in front of the keel box , & the boom kicker has been given a shallower angle . ive also replaced the liteply deck for an almost solid 1/16th birch ply one but not cut the forward lightening hole into it . in my mind it sails better like this than before my accident ! i dont race or even sail with anybody else .

[Timo2]

Hi All

     Triumphjon   your boat was a wee nip to start, but now it a sail boat 

     Wee Nip sail and race very day here in Glasgow on 4 town ponds  ( 1 boat solo sailor  ,    2 boat a race,   3 boats a event    )

      Plus check out wedsites    :-  http://sites.google.com/site/theweenip/

                                              http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6396.0

                                             
   Timo2
     

[triumphjon]

no its still a wee nip ! the mast was moved back to enable a jib to be installed as in the mk2 spec , but ive not got around to fitting it yet !

[Blackadder]

Hello again!,

Yesterday I took the Wee Nip out to the pond with the sail moved forwards. It definitely improved its sailing since it only got pulled into the wind once.
    I also tried to not go to close to the wind and as I said it definitely improved its performance.

Thanks for the help,

tjm