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From: Len den Besten (no email)
Date: Mon Aug 08 2005 - 09:11:35 EDT
I found this info on www.bobbyschenk.de
I translated the essentials of the or. german text.
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"Sailing the ITC we had to think of something to deal with the fact
our windvane doesn't function under 5 kts of wind. We simply
attached a plastic bag at the top of the vane so the weak wind flows
in and fills it like a parachute. This "parachute" is capable of
moving the vane when the wind itself is not. Because of the light
weight of the bag there is no need to alter the contra-weight of the
vane. At the bottom corner the bag needs a hole so the rain can't
cause a heavy bag of water.
We also used the plastic bag with stronger winds because it made the
steering installation more sensitive en faster in response. The
result is a less zigzag course. It might be a good idea to design
windvane with some sort of "windcatcher" at the top of the vane…
We used this method everywhere and with success. We didn't use it
when sailing the Indian Ocean, cause there's plenty of wind. The
windvane normally starts functioning well at 5 kts apparent wind but
with this adaption it starts at 3 kts. Under those circumstances the
speed suffices to move the rudder-pendel-arm adequately. This setup
was valuable especially on downwind course in the ITC Intertropical
Convergence Zone.
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Credit to Siggi and Jürgen and their dog Julie, S/v Petit Prince
When you're a member of the yahoo group sailingonline you can look
at a word doc with a picture. The world cruising-group doesn't
permit mortal members to upload files... :)
Len
S/v Present.
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