HADRON H2 Owner’s Manual 2018
5
3. Sailing the H2
.
The Hadron H2 has been designed very much with ease of handling in mind but each
class of dinghy has different characteristics and the H2 may perform in a different way
to that which you are used to. The class is young and thus a set of optimum techniques
are still evolving. Thus, because of the short time since product launch, the details in
this section are part theoretical and part empirical. Early users of the H2 are
encouraged to send feedback of their own experiences to Hadron Dinghies Ltd so that
this document can be updated and improved.
Much of the tuning guidance derives from a training day led by Jim Hunt at South
Cerney SC in April 2018. Thanks to Jim for providing much of the following text.
Launching
(First launch: It may be necessary to adjust the friction device on the centreboard if the
board is either too stiff in the case ( it cannot be raised or lowered easily) or too loose
(it persists in raising itself when you gather way). Therefore take a large screwdriver
with you, suitable for 10 gauge slotted head screws. Use this to adjust the friction
device on the upper face of the centreboard – this can only be accessed when the
board is full down, so you need to be afloat in a least 1.5m of water. Screw clockwise to
increase friction, anti-clockwise to reduce friction.)
Push the rudder down a little so that it is just below horizontal.
Wheel the boat into the water, while keeping it as near head to wind as possible, and
float it off its trolley. (The Sovereign alloy trolley is so light that it floats: it will facilitate
launching and recovery if it is weighted so that it sinks).
Stand in the water on the windward side of the boat and hold the shroud with your
forward hand. Pull the ’centreboard down’ line sufficiently to lower the centreboard a
little. Check that all control lines are cleated on both sides. In stronger winds, ensure
that the kicker is cleated but not tensioned.
Ensure that the mainsheet is freed off. Turn the boat slightly away from the wind until
the boat gathers a little way and you can climb in over the stern. Push the rudder down
half way as you climb aboard.
As soon as the boat is clear of the land and in deep water, lower the centreboard fully,
luff the boat and pull the rudder fully down by pulling the rudder downhaul line on the
tiller and jambing it off on the Clamcleat. If possible, and especially in stronger winds,
tighten the wing nut on the rudder pivot pin. Adjust the rig controls to suit the wind
conditions.
Now sheet in and go!
Sailing Upwind
The boat is designed to be sailed upwind with the stem immersed about 40mm. This
will require you to sit well forward, especially in lighter winds. In boats with a waterline
stripe this equates to the lower edge touching the water. In light airs the stem should be
immersed even more (this helps reduce the wetted surface area, and hence low speed
resistance, of the hull). The H2 is a well balanced boat and the centreboard should be
fully down in all conditions to windward.
As with most dinghies, the H2 should be sailed upright, but a small degree of heel is
acceptable. The HD Sails sail has excellent ’gust response’ and in a gust you will find
that the upper leech will free slightly and thus automatically depower the rig.
