The International Swift Solo
The Ultimate Single-Handed Skiff
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from this position I am ready to "roll out" onto the wire as I head up. The leeward mark is behind my kite and about 100 yards away
right after rounding leeward mark. Becasue I left my vang and cunno alone for the downwind leg, I am ready to head out and go fast to weather
A momentary lapse--both boats should be flatter
Two different steering styles.
This is another position that I like when the wind velocity requires rapid in and out manuervering on the wire.
Gybing--here, I've got the new tiller extension in my left hand and the new spin sheet in my right
5 knots of breeze is perhaps the most physically demanding because you are constantly moving in and out.
Ron Watt works on syncronizing his sails for both twist and relativity
Notice that both Ron and I have the tiller behind our left knees for the douse (our right leg is straight). See next photo
This method leads to disaster (his third time out and the last time he used this technique (see next photo)
Auto pilot has failed and boat has began rounding up prematurely which has led to this prawning session
Really good technique. Feet together and pointing forward so he can easily watch forward and to weather for the gusts
Here Kris has overstood the weather mark. It's actually blowing 15 knots even though it doesn't look like it.
Good trapping position again. You can see that if he were steering underhand, his tiller extension would be very close to dragging on the toe rail
Kris has switched to underhand for the downwind ride
Knee pads are very important on a Swift
Be sure to put the non skid under the flair.