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Q&A -- Inside vs. Outside Jibes

Posted 1 year, 3 months ago

Q&A -- Inside vs. Outside Jibes
In our review post of Saturday's Match 6 we made the point that ETNZ was doing inside jibes ("gybes" for non-Americans) while Alinghi was doing outsides. No surprise, that has generated a few queries, hence this Q&A.; Q: What's the difference between an inside jibe (or gybe) and an outside jibe? A: Mark Chisnell (GBR) discussed this yesterday on his excellent Tack by Tack website, sponsored by BOAT International, where's he's been live-blogging the LVC and AC racing. He was Mark Chisnell: innie or outie?asked by a reader to explain what ETNZ strategist Adam Beashel (AUS) meant when he said at Saturday's post-race press conference, "I think there is a little difference in the boats cross-overs ? we have developed it this way in the last three years of our sailing, and are happy going inside with our gybes in that wind range." Mark's answer handled both questions nicely, and here it is with a few clarifying edits by your Ed., (but, gov', staying with Mark's Brit spelling of "jibe").... As it gets windier, the ACC boats swap from an inside gybe, where the clew of the sail is pulled around in front of the headstay, but aft of the luff of the sail, to an outside gybe, where the clew of the sail is floated round in front of the luff. Adam is saying that the cross-over, or the wind speed at which they switch from inside gybing to outside gybing, is higher for ETNZ than Alinghi. They've trained and tested with it like that, and are happy doing it different to Alinghi. Adam's quote continues, ''Hopefully we will stay inside a little bit higher than what we expected today, and it is what is showing with our slightly better gybes. If conditions get softer later on it could get more interesting.? And now he's saying (I think) that ETNZ will continue to inside gybe in a slightly stronger breeze than they had on that occasion (about 8 knots), and hopefully they will keep gybing better than Alinghi (which they appeared to be doing). But it'll get interesting if the breeze was any less ("softer") and Alinghi start gybing inside as well - who would gybe better then? Thanks Mark, and hope that helps our readers as well. And on the theory that a picture (or four) is worth a thousand words.... An inside jibe by ETNZ in light air during our match with them in RR1. Note the clew (aft, lower corner) of the kite is being pulled from one side to the other between the luff (leading edge) of the kite and the forestay (wire that holds the mast up in front). Outside jibe sequence during the LV semifinals, pic 1. Outside jibe sequence, pic 2. Note the clew of the kite is being pulled from one side to the other outside (forward of) the kite's luff (leading edge). Outside jibe sequence, pic 3. Photos by Gilles Martin-Raget. Full Story »

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