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"Riding a Short Tandem"
by Andrew Daff

 

Here are some pics of the Tandem in action.

tan1_ad.jpg (36030 bytes) tan2_ad.jpg (15414 bytes) tan3_ad.jpg (16587 bytes) tan4_ad.jpg (21149 bytes)

Taken at a speed trial in about 1993. We had a 5m on the front and a 5.5m on the back. The wind was barely 25 knots and the pictures show us starting and entering the 250m course. Our average speed on this run was 32 knots but we started slow and accellerated all the way. On this day we were faster than 95% on the single boards, the fastest of which went about 34 to 35. On a 35 knot wind day we saw just over 35 knots on our speedwatch with small 3.5m sails and very comfortable. (Other pic - this was taken at the end of our upwind return, hence the mast tracks forward. Notice peter {front} has no front footstrap on that side and the back strap is mounted in the mast track so it moves forward with the mast). I really think we could have sailed 4.5m plus sails in these conditions and got close to 40 knots but we didn't have the timing gear set up so weren't willing to risk it.(Read - piked out!)

In 1999 I talked a brave mate into having a go with two 5m sails in 25 - 30 knots. I foolishly didn't put the speedwatch on for the first run but I recon that was faster then I had ever gone before. At least the high 30's. At the end of the run slowing down we got the speed wobbles and bailed off. When my sail hit the water my carbon mast snapped at the boom so we had to walk back and didn't do another run. Bummer!

Board Specs: Length - 10' 8" Width - 20" Volume - ? (sinks pretty quick with two on!) Fin - US Type box - 11" to 13" fins usually.

Other interesting things:

Back footstrap for rear rider is literally on the very tail - well behind fin. Rear (usually me) riders front strap is a single strap on the centreline. Front riders rear strap is attached to the rear mast track slider and moves with the mast. I keep asking Peter if he wants a front strap for getting upwind and he says; Naah....don't need it!

When on a speed run we have a LOT of sail overlap,(the idea is to both get as close as possible to the tail of the board) especially with 5m sails. This has the effect of drastictly increasing the power in the front sail and slightly decreasing the power in the rear. We usually run the size you would use fully powered on a solo board on the front and approx 1/2 meter bigger at the back. For a really serious speed run you would go .5 to 1m bigger.

It is critical to relax your feet and not fight each other to control the board. Otherwise it leads to out of control speed wobbles.

At speed the feeling is incredible, really stable and powerful, like being on a runaway freight train! We haven't mastered jibing yet, the board is just too small and cramped. Just stopping is a challenge. We usually try to sheet out, slow down and round up, but we often just end up in a heap.

 

(21.03.00)

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