Originally Posted by Tornado_ALIVE
Originally Posted by Timbo
But here's a question I have for you A catters, why do the A cats NEVER trap downwind? They sit in, fly the hull and "Wild thing" all the way down. I do the same thing on my Blade when the wind is light. I sit in the middle of the tramp, feet under the boom to the low side hiking strap, and fly that hull as long as possible.


A Cats do not have the sail area to warrant trapping downwind. An A Cat will run hotter angles on the down wind whilst sitting in as an F18 will when the crew is trapped out (In contidions where both crew are comforably trapping up wind plus) An F18 will only travel a little bit quicker than the A, however will be far superior in depth.

Originally Posted by Timbo
Still, on the F18, you have much longer bows, and much more volume that will support your wt. and power than the F16's do, when trapping downwind. I always did it on the I20, never, ever, burried a bow, as they are so long and fat.

But on the F16, all I have to do is tweak the tiller and the low bow goes under. Dig it in too deep and you are hitting the breaks, not fast. Better to sit in and back, get the bows up and plane.


Garry would be the best person to comment here, however I believe trapping downwind when there is enough breeze would be quicker providing you do not make mistakes. This is where training comes into it. If you can reduce the mistakes you will be quicker, but if you stuff that bow or are not quiet as nible on traps, then you would be quicker staying in. Not saying you should not practice it though.

Also trapping down wind you can get your weight even futher aft then if you are sitting on the tramp. On the F18 and T, when the breeze really gets fresh, some crews sit in and have a very rocky road downwind continually stuffing the bows. The crews that stay out on trap survive the downwind and run a lot quicker. Some times they will run both hulls in the water so you have max volume up front in the water.

Pay particular attention to the kite. If you are a choker, you will nosedive more. If you keep an open kite, you will be fine. When a steep wave is coming up or a line of pressure, easing the kite will lift the sholders of the kite and help lift the bow.

Notice how the shape at the top of the kite changes as you ease it to provide more lift to the bows.

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Agreed.

Driving downhill single handed on the wire takes time to learn to do it right. I ususally wire up to about 20kts and then I fall off too much!!!!!

F16 - GBR 553 - SOLD

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