Taking the CR914 For a Sail

After you finish assembling your Cup Racer, you are ready to go outdoors and practice sailing. Since the CR914 sails just like a real yacht, the principles and techniques of sailing are all the same.

The Principles of Sailing

How is a yacht able to sail into the wind? This phenomenon can be explained with exactly the same principle that makes it possible for birds and airplanes to fly. When a sail fills with wind it takes on the same shape as the wing of an airplane. When wind hits the sail, the sail bulges on one side. The wind moving across the bulging side moves faster than the wind moving across the opposite side, which causes the air pressure on the bulging side to lessen. Because of this difference in pressure between the two sides of the sail, the boat is pulled in the direction of A. If we break down A into two parts, we get two “forces” in the directions of B and C. Since the keel at the bottom of the boat checks the “force” that tries to move the boat in the direction of C, the boat has no choice but to move in the direction of B.

 

The Angle of the Sail

In principle, the sail should be set on a line that bisects (cuts into two equal parts) the angle that is formed by the direction of the wind and the direction the boat is heading.

 

Sail Positioning and Terminology

When a yacht catches wind from the starboard (right) side and the main sail is out over the port (left) side, it is said to be on "starboard tack". Conversely, when a yacht catches wind from the port side and the main sail is out over the starboard side, it is said to be on "port tack".
The angle at which you can run your yacht into the wind is limited to 45 degrees. (A heading taken at an angle smaller than 45 degrees will not produce forward propulsion.)

 

Thus, you cannot sail into the wind at any angle that falls within the shaded area of the figure below.

 

The Basics On How To Sail

Close-Hauled

When sailing close-hauled, you take in the sail all the way (by pulling the sail control lever back) and maneuver the yacht using only the rudder.

If the yacht is properly tuned for a weak weather helm, the yacht should be able to move almost strait ahead with the rudder control bar in a neutral position.

When you see the luff start to shiver, move the rudder control lever a bit (but not too much or the boat will start to meander) to correct the shivering and stay on course.

Sailing in this manner is called "close-hauled". Tacking is also executed using only the rudder with the sails taken in all the way.

 

Beam Reaching

When beam reaching, you use both the rudder control lever and the sail control lever.

The technique involves subtle adjustments of taking the sail in when it starts to shiver, and letting it out when the shivering stops. Once you get used to it, you should be able to anticipate sail shivers just before they occur.

With beam reaching, you will experience a strong weather helm effect (a turning windward). To maintain your course, you should compensate by manipulating the rudder.

 

Running and Broad Reaching

When running, the sails are wide open. When broad reaching, the sails are taken in only slightly. In the case of remote control yachts, running and broad reaching are hard to distinguish, so you have to pay close attention to where the boat is heading.

If, when running, the sail shifts to an angle of broad reaching, the yacht may start to snake, and if the wind is particularly strong, it may broach (veer broadside to the wind, making it impossible to sail). Likewise, if when broad reaching the sail assumes a running angle, it will tend to shiver.

When running or broad reaching, the main sail catches the most wind, so the yacht will experience the weather helm effect. When the boat starts to turn windward, compensate immediately with the rudder. If you wait too long to compensate, the yacht may start to snake or it may even broach. When the yacht is running, if the jib and the main sail are let out on the same side, the weather helm will be particularly strong. In order to lesson this effect, you should let the jib out over the opposite side to obtain balance.

In order to make the sails open on opposite sides, catch the wind directly from the rear and then steal the jib’s wind with the main sail. When you do this, the wind blowing across the back of the main sail will cause the jib to open up on the opposite side.

 

Tacking

In order to sail windward (into the wind), you have to continually go back and forth between being on starboard tack and port tack. Tacking is the point in the turn when the sails move from one side of the boat to the other and catch the wind on the other side.

In order to perform tacking properly, it is necessary to execute your maneuver with enough speed. If the speed is insufficient, or if the turn happens too slowly, your yacht may stall heading into the wind, making any further tacking impossible.

When maneuvering the rudder during tacking, quick but small motions with the control lever are fundamental. When you set a windward course, sail your yacht close-hauled, tacking frequently to adjust your direction.

 

Gybing

When the yacht is moving in a leeward direction (with the wind), you can change direction by moving the main sail from one side to the other. This is called "gybing".

Since the yacht is moving very fast, any over-manipulation of the rudder can cause snaking, so it is best to let the sail out all the way and make subtle rudder adjustments.

When winds are moderate to soft, you can gybe by taking in the sail, but when winds are strong, the yacht might broach, so it is best to let the sail out all the way.

 

 

 

Starting Out


1. Center the rudder and give the sails maximum play.
2. Turn the boat broadside to the wind and set it into the water. (a)
3. it sits, the boat will not move, but if you take in both sails just a bit, they will fill with wind and the boat will start to move forward. If you pull them in too quickly, the boat will heel so pull them in bit by bit, just enough to keep them from shivering.
4. Now make the yacht turn to port by moving the rudder to the left. Then take in the sails a little more so that they stay filled with wind. Turn the yacht to starboard by moving the rudder to the right. As the boat turns, let out the sails to keep them filled with wind.

 

Pre-Launch Preparation and Inspection

  • To prevent water from getting into the hull, go around the edges of the cockpit cover with tape.
  • Fully extend the antenna of the signal transmitter.
  • Check to see if the batteries in the signal transmitter are sufficiently charged.
  • Give the whole yacht one final inspection.

 

Practice

Now here is a real test of your sailing skills.
The numbers below refer to the ones in the figure below.
  1. Set the boat in the water with the port side windward.
  2. Turn the rudder to port and at the same time pull in the sails so they fill with wind (luffing up).
  3. Stay in the turn until the luff starts to shiver, then straighten the rudder (close-hauled).
  4. Move the rudder to port and the boat will again turn toward the wind. The sails will shiver and the boat will slow in its forward motion. As it continues to turn, the sails will move to the opposite side (starboard tack).
  5. Pull the sails in a little so that they catch the wind. The boat will continue to turn in the same direction. When the boat is at about 45 degrees, straiten the rudder and the boat will sail cross-hauled.
  6. Turn the rudder to port and let out the sails so the yacht is sailing perpendicular to the wind (beam reaching). Watch for shivering in the sail and keep close control of the sails and rudder.
  7. Turn the rudder to port, and as the boat turns let out the sails (bearing away).
  8. Straighten the rudder and hold the sails (broad reaching)
  9. Move the rudder to port and the boat will turn directly leeward. Let the sails fill with wind and speed forward (running). This may also be a good time to practice letting out the sails over opposite sides.
  10. Using the rudder, turn the boat to port again. At some point in the turn, the main sail will swing back to the opposite side, and the boat will gybe to the port tack.
  11. Continue around the loop by using the rudder control, and see if you can bring the CR914 around to the starting position again.

Once you are able to adjust the rudder and sails smoothly, try to complete the loop following a clockwise path.

If you cannot figure out how to adjust your sail during a practice run, open up the sail a bit and steer with just the rudder for the time being.

 

A 2-Mark Race

After you have learned the basic sail and rudder techniques, you can try a quick race on a simple course like the one shown here.

A swimming pool where there is little wind or a pond without many waves would be idea for setting up your course. Lay out the buoys in a "V" as shown in the figure.

 

Racing

You can race from 2 to 12 Cup Racers simultaneously when you use the narrow band frequency.


A.How to Navigate the Course

As shown in the figure, lay out the buoys in a triangle having either 2 or 3 sides of equal length. Halfway between markers A and B, you should set up the Start/Finish line.

The course given as an example here is the one that is generally used for races, but the size and shape may have to be adjusted due to water and wind conditions.
B. Racing Rules

1.Right of Way
  1. A boat on starboard tack has the right of way over one on port tack. A boat on port tack must give way in this situation.
  2. A boat sailing leeward (with the wind) has the right of way over one sailing windward (against the wind).
  3. When two boats are sailing along together as shown in the figure below, neither should interfere with the progress of the other by tacking or gybing.
NOTES:
1. When boats are at mark, special rules take precedence (section 4 below).
2. The rules given here are just to get you started. When you participate in an actual race, you should be sure to confirm more specific rules with your competitors.

 

 

2. The Start

Start the race in whichever direction is windward. You should count down from 1 minute before starting. When any part of a boat crosses the starting line before the starting signal, it will have to go back to the starting line before continuing to race, but it must do this without interfering with the other boats in any way.

3. The Finish

When any part of a boat crosses the finish line, that boat shall be counted as fishing the race. After that, the boat must cross the finish line.

4. Passing a Mark

  1. Boats must always pass to the outside of a mark in the direction of the course without touching it.
  2. If a boat touches a mark it has to go completely around that mark once in the same direction before continuing. Of course it may not interfere with the progress of the other boats when doing this.
  3. If a boat goes around a mark in the wrong direction, it must go around once again in the right direction.
  4. If two boats approach a mark at the same time, the one on the outside must give enough room for the other to get around it.

 

Racing Highlights

A. The Start
  1. Before the start of the race, the two boats fight for position, using the rules to the best of their advantage. If you are able to skillfully take a position close to your opponent, you can control his yacht.
  2. As shown in the figure, B takes a control position close behind the stern of A. If A luffs up and tries to go on tack, B will be able to hinder A’s move by squeezing to the inside, at which point A will be pushed out beyond the starting line.
  3. If A tries to gybe, B can move in the same direction on the inside of A and remain between A and the start line. In doing so, B can keep A away from the start line during the approach. Keeping your yacht between your opponent and the start line (or the finish line) is the iron rule of yacht racing.
B. Blanketing

By taking a position up wind from your opponent, you can steal his wind. This is called “blanketing”. When the upwind craft blankets the downwind craft, the downwind craft tries desperately to escape.

  1. The Blanket Area for a Craft Sailing Cross-Hauled.

    From this position, the downwind yacht B has absolutely no means of attacking the upwind yacht A. As long as B is in this position, he will be slowed by bad wind and waves. B has no choice but to try as soon as possible to escape the cone shaped area blanketed by A.

  2. The Blanket Area When Sailing With the Wind

    On the other hand, when traveling with the wind, the rear yacht (the upwind craft B) has a chance to attack. Coming up the rear, B can pursue the leader by blanketing anywhere the downwind yacht should try to flee.