Downsizing from a full size dinghy (too old and creaky to right a capsize) to RC sail racing. Looking forward to learning new skills and taking onwnership of my first boat (IOM) this weekend with Bournville RC Sailing and MB club in good old Brum.

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)

1 hour ago, Richard Seal said:

Downsizing from a full size dinghy (too old and creaky to right a capsize) to RC sail racing. Looking forward to learning new skills and taking onwnership of my first boat (IOM) this weekend with Bournville RC Sailing and MB club in good old Brum.

It's still a sailing boat, so nearly all principles still hold good. Comimg from dinghies you might find the concept a backstay new to begin with...!

Biggest differences i found when starting rc sailing (4 yrs ago) are trying to judge distances to boats/marks; and just the angst of not being able to tweak the rig, in-situ, at a moment's notice - once you launch, that's it for that race! 

Try and reduce your use of the rudder, it is too easy to put full rudder on as you are not feeling the weight of the rudder a d you will find yourself being too slow out of the tacks

The first issue you may have is which way round to control the rudder from the stick. If you are a tiller man you may want to push the stick left to go right, but I would suggest you first try to use the most common method of stick right = rudder right.

I would strongly suggest you spend some time with Nigel Barrow’s blog. Most of it may not be directly aimed at beginners but it is packed with information and advice especially about IOMs. Buy him a coffee*!

Just get time on the water, see how others adjust their sails, ask for advice, read about set ups.

and just enjoy it……

welcome!!

Thanks for all the good wishes and advice. Picked up my boat "Bleu Bottle" this morning. Its quite an old boat (I think its an Alex Austin Bubbles IOM as it has a wide beam compared to more modern boats). After an initial issue with a dodgy transmitter and following a tremendous thunderstorm, I managed to get her out on the water and join the club racing. Suffice to say, I didn't finish last in the final race! Going to need to learn how to tune her up but she seems like she may still have some life in her yet. I'll try and grab some photos to upload over the next few weeks.

I had one similar wide, and the first issue I had was measuring it.

Plumb line from mast head to hang over the fin bolt head.

then got the front measurement to a point on the mast and from the rear hook to a mast then your mast will be ave the keels and central effor, it worked fror me