Comments for Downwind Practise at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 10 out of 10 comments http://www.surfski.info Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:12:42 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1941 Here are a couple of photos of Dale's skeg http://www.surfski.info/images/stories/2008/01/skeg/skeg2.jpg http://www.surfski.info/images/stories/2008/01/skeg/skeg1.jpg - Rob Mousley Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:03:43 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1938 Actually it was not either David or myself. The ski is an XT and the skeg is a surfboard fin stuck on about a meter in front of the rudder. I have spoken to the paddler (Mark?) and he said it works a treat and that it eliminates broaching on runs. The fins used by David and myself are somewhat different. After a bit of experimentation I opted for a low aspect ratio fin located about 70cm behind the seat/bucket. I found that moving the fin backwards increases directional stability but reduces turning radius. Moving it forward increased maneuverability but reduced effectiveness. The location that I opted for seemed the best compromise as the turning radius is about the same as without but the ski is is more directionally stable on runs. A secondary and unintended benefit is that the ski is more stable in that it is less divergent when it rolled to one side. I opted for a low aspect ratio fin because the ski can be laid on flat ground without damage to the fin - i.e. the tip of the fin is below a straight line drawn between the rudder and the nose. The fins were very kindly moulded for me by Andrew Fyfe of Honcho. I am sending 2 pictures to Rob so that he can post them alongside this response. - Dale Lippstreu Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:31:04 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1937 That would have been David Cade or Dale Lippstreu. I have seen skegs on both their ski's, but not recently. Dave or Dale what was the verdict of the effectiveness of the skegs? - Alain Jaques Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:03:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1936 I was at the Mocke's shop a few weeks back, chatting to Nikki's dad. He told me about someone who had added a skeg 70cm in front of the rudder of a Fenn XT. Dawid apparently said that it made a significant improvement to his stability when on a wave. Does anyone know more about this? - Louis Stanford Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:56:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1935 if I can include a picture I could do a review for Rob/Alain ar eyou keen? Absolutely - I think a lot of people would be fascinated with this. - Rob Mousley Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:56:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1920 fun stuff rob...i'd love to know how the big boys up front sorted themselves out Dawid said he and Daryl had a great dice - Dawid came in just in front in a time of 40:12; Daryl was about 3sec behind! - Rob Mousley Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:49:24 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1919 Hey Craig, The theory is: If you charge down the face, what happens is you run into the back of the next wave and then slow down. You then have to wait for the wave behind to catch up to you again, put in max effort and accelerate onto it again. Better to be moving at the same speed as the wave so that you stay at high speed for longer. As soon as you spot a dip in front of you, you then take a couple of quick strokes to move across and get your nose into the new dip. One of the guys put it well - he said it's not about getting maximum speed, it's all about conserving momentum. The idea is you've got to be just in front of the crest so that the wave is pushing you along. You know you're doing it correctly when you're going as fast or faster than the guys around you, but your heart rate (ie effort) is much less than their's. Personally, I find it the theory quite difficult to put into practice, but it definitely does work if you get it right. - Rob Mousley Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:09:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1918 Riding the crest? I don't understand this technique, as I've been charging down the face thinking I'm getting the max out of a run. I would imagine that being on the crest feels like you are falling off the run, rather than being on it? Please could you help out here, as I can't understand how being on the crest is going to equate to the same amount of speed as being pushed in the trough. - Craig van Heerden Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:50:25 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1916 Rob do you think the V10 large elliptical rudder would work better downwind on the V10 Sport then the old style one thats standard. That's what I'm guessing. We're going to get hold of one of the elliptical rudders to try it. - Rob Mousley Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:11:11 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/620/220/#pc_1914 fun stuff rob...i'd love to know how the big boys up front sorted themselves out. - Joe Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:14:00 +0100