Skiff racing on the Georges River
Feb. 24th, 2014 07:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
khiemtranThe 16 foot skiffs are out preparing to race in front of Woolooware Bay, but one of the boats is much closer to shore and moving slightly erratically. Can you spot what's missing?
Have you seen it? There's a clue if you look at this other skiff, heading out to join the action...
The yellow boat has no rudder! (And they're also down one crewman.) You can see in this earlier picture that they started out with three crew and the helmsman is working on the rudder at the back of the back. Presumably, he couldn't fix it and the remaining crew decided to get some practice sailing rudderless.
How is this possible? Well, with two sails you can still steer because one sail is in the front of the middle of the boat (or more precisely its centre of hydrostatic pressure) and the other is behind. So the sail in front will try to turn the boat one way and the sail behind will try to turn it the other. By letting the sails in and out, you can therefore steer just be using the sails alone. An amazing piece of seamanship, especially in something as tricky as a racing skiff!
Of course, it doesn't always work...
Here's one of the crew at the end, apparently carrying the rudder and tiller extension. Perhaps he's going to have another try at fixing it.
Meanwhile, some Moths fly past. You won't see them foiling without rudders - they need the lift at the back to help them stay balanced...
Jousting like knights. Remember: starboard tack has right of way...
Meanwhile, the race itself is still about to get underway. They've had one false start already and had to be recalled from Woolooware Bay.
Have you seen it? There's a clue if you look at this other skiff, heading out to join the action...
The yellow boat has no rudder! (And they're also down one crewman.) You can see in this earlier picture that they started out with three crew and the helmsman is working on the rudder at the back of the back. Presumably, he couldn't fix it and the remaining crew decided to get some practice sailing rudderless.
How is this possible? Well, with two sails you can still steer because one sail is in the front of the middle of the boat (or more precisely its centre of hydrostatic pressure) and the other is behind. So the sail in front will try to turn the boat one way and the sail behind will try to turn it the other. By letting the sails in and out, you can therefore steer just be using the sails alone. An amazing piece of seamanship, especially in something as tricky as a racing skiff!
Of course, it doesn't always work...
Here's one of the crew at the end, apparently carrying the rudder and tiller extension. Perhaps he's going to have another try at fixing it.
Meanwhile, some Moths fly past. You won't see them foiling without rudders - they need the lift at the back to help them stay balanced...
Jousting like knights. Remember: starboard tack has right of way...
Meanwhile, the race itself is still about to get underway. They've had one false start already and had to be recalled from Woolooware Bay.
