Guzzilazz

I've found this with both my ARS808 and a friend's RMG. The trick that I found was to start fiddling from the centre of travel. What I mean by that is that you remove the winch drum, set the end points on the winch "equal" (i.e. both, say, 100). Set the winch stick to EXACTLY mid-position so that the winch itself is mid travel, then power off. Next move your sheet clip to EXACTLY the mid-point of its travel. Next, fiddle with your winch drum so that the sheets are still midpoint and get your drum back on the winch as close to that mid position as possible - don't put the screw in yet. Now, with the transmitter stick still mid travel, power everything back up, and GRADUALLY test the travel in both directions and adjust the endpoints so that your range of travel is correct and both endpoints should be within one or two of each other. Take care with this stage because if you sheet in or out fully you may wreck the pulley blocks amongst other damage, slowly and carefully is the watchword. On both the IOM's we moved from a single click on the winch stick (Futaba T6K) resulting in 1cm+ of sheet movement to small mm's of movement and even across the range of travel.

Austin, thanks for all your work (and I know how much it is) in updating the platform. Removing the pictures is a good step. I do wonder about software developers are on when they make changes (like the mark all read one). I mentioned it earlier on, but if you decide to do beta testing, happy to stand up as a volunteer

I'm now away from home for the day and decided to browse on my phone... It doesn't look like the platform software automatically deals with the auto switch from landscape to portrait on the switch of device. The phone is even worse as you have to scroll right as well as down. As someone who has been involved, would it have been possible to beta release to some testers before going live? I would certainly have volunteered to be involved...

Hmm, I can't agree John, It's no longer easy to scan down the list of sub-forums and see which ones have new content

As a UK IOM measurer please note that the tank IS NOT needed for "Certification Control" - i.e. the process that you need to have completed to get a Certificate. At important events the Race Committee may insist on boats undergoing Equipment Inspection and will provide information on what will be checked- for example at a ranking event last year I was asked to weigh every boat. If you go to the IOMICA website and look for the Certification Control Form for hull and appendages you will see what will be measured.

The PY System used to cause more arguments than even the rules in my dinghy sailing days... My "big boat" club uses a local handicap scheme which creates similar...

Bill Green, and the plate is the same as RMG. I have an ARS 808 in my IOM and would never go back to an RMG

IMHO, boat speed is your friend in light airs and I adopt your "if in doubt let it out" principle

It'll take you a while to get used to steering with the boat sailing towards you, worth not tangling too closely with other boats until you get some confidence. I'm in my 5th year of RC sailing following a lifetime of dinghy and yacht sailing, and I still get it wrong now - but only less than 5 times a month. I also have issues when the boat is sailing parallel to my side of the pond but at a distance... I regularly think i'm steering to port, only to find it's actually to starboard. But that's a perspective thing. By the way my description of RC racing is that it's Dinghy Racing on steroids! You'll get more starts in a month than many dinghy sailors get in their lives - e.g. I used to sail 3 races a week. Now I probably sail 30 races a week! Main thing? Have fun!!! ( and check the rule differences between full size and RC (There's an RC Appendix)

Remember that surface wind is forecast at 10 metres above ground level. Friction with the land reduces windspeed as you get close to the ground...

I have regular conversations with (big boat) sailors who say (e.g.) that a forecast is excellent - when the forecaster may only buy two updates a day from GFS - and observation says that it's patently inaccurate, but that's sailors for you!

John, As usual a succinct and clear explanation. A point from me; the forecast windspeed is generally calculated at 10m Above Ground Level (AGL). Secondly, the major part of weather forecasts is that they are based on computer models, and the cost of computing means that there are relatively few models available world wide. The most significant part of weather modelling is that each model is based on a square grid (actually cubic, but we'll ignore that for this), and all the variables - pressure, pressure tendency (increasing/decreasing), temperature, precipitation, wind speed, wind direction to name the obvious - are all assumed to be identical across the whole grid square. As some of the grids (e.g. the American GFS Model basic) are large (22.5x22.5km) and others (UK Met Office) are small (1.2x1.2km) you need to choose a relevant model within the forecast provider. My recommendation is the Windy app, together with the Premium subscription where you can compare the results of different models and the different resolutions.

I forgot to add I follow the SailsETC use of two layers of shrink wrap as well!

Most that I've seen these days is a hole in the front of the mast, and a stainless hook with an eye. Eye usually perpendicular to the hook, crimp shrouds to the hook, hook placed in hole in mast. Simple, easy to replace shrouds when needed. Deffo my preferred method

Deffo water. I sail on a brackish lake and water in the boat is a definite "standby to replace" the servos or receiver...

John, As always your knowledge and insight into the workings at WS is very helpful

The only comment I would make is that sailors at any level in sailing in general, including radio sailing, seem to assume that they know the rules despite them being updated every 4 years. In recent months I've even heard an experienced dinghy sailor new to radio sailing ask "when do I call mast abeam?". That's someone who is at least 20 years out of date! So World Sailing haven't helped with this particular rule update cycle as the Call Book for Radio Sailing which does give excellent clarification on rules wasn't released until a couple of weeks ago when the rules have been "live" since 1st January.

At Harwich we've been using A-fleet for a number of years now. Fantastic app, and John (the developer) is REALLY helpful. HMS requires investment in a laptop (say £500), an Office license (for Excel) at about £80 a year and time to transcribe. A-Fleet license £3.99, Amazon Fire Tablet (with Google Play installed) £150... No brainer

Sail number standards aren't in the class rules, they are defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) Appendix G and are amended for radio sailing in Appendix E

As an experienced dinghy catamaran sailor in the past, if you get stuck, reverse the helm, and you'll pay off on the other tack when the boat is going astern...

Sorry for asking too obvious a question!😊

Have you thought of contacting Southwold Model Yacht Racing Club? I know that they still race models of local beach boats.

John, Thank you for your rapid analysis and in depth comments on the rules here. Whatever the subject, you are happy and willing to try to spread your (obvious) knowledge. Personally, I find the insights invaluable.

No problem, I didn't take it that way... IOM Class Management is very political at the international level from what I have been told.

As a measurer, I'm not going to comment on the Class Rules. There is a process for the amending of them, and if you look back through this section of the forum, you will find the UK association asked for votes on the proposed changes for this year international AGM.