8
their normal position, and pull gently on the
rudder downhaul
to lower some of
the
rudder blade
. Then, s/he may instruct the crew to push the
bow
off the
wind
and climb in. The crew will then lower the
daggerboard
as depth allows.
The retaining elastic should be tied on as soon as possible to prevent the
board falling out in the event of a capsize.
The
singlehanded
sailor may choose to ask someone to help them to launch.
If launching alone, stand in the water alongside the gunwhale, holding the
boat head to wind. Lower part of the
daggerboard
and
rudder
, and then push
the
bow off the wind
while hopping in.
As soon the water is deep enough, make sure that you lower the
rudder
blade
fully by pulling the
rudder downhaul
hard. You will know it is fully down if
you feel a gentle ”thud” as the front face of the blade hits the front face of the
stock
. Cleat the downhaul and tidy it by winding it around the
tiller
. Pull the sail
in and you are away!
For the best performance, you should ensure that position yourself so that the
boat is sailing through the water as flat as possible. Watch the
trim
(
fore
and
aft
) and the
heel
. The boat should always be sailed as upright as possible.
Top Tip
As a general rule, sit further forward in lighter winds and further aft in stronger
breezes.
