JM,
That tel-tail is about the best idea since sliced bread. A commercial
version is out there too, but like you say this one only cost about 10
cents.
I found the cassette tape was a bit too sensitive to the wind. It will tell
you there is a breeze when the air movement isn't enough to pull the boat. I
switched to yarn... I take a piece and separate the strands down to one and
use that as the indicator. That seems to match the Fish's need for wind
energy much more closely. Now if the tel-tail moves so will the boat.
I'm talking about the worst case - nearly nonexistent wind. I may still have
to lean a tad to leeward and push the boom out just to get the sail to fill,
but if the yarn flutters then I know I will make way enough to beat the
driftwood and flotsam home.
....then the jet skis zoom by and stop you dead in their wake, but that's
another issue.
Wayne
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-----Original Message-----
From: kuzitsfun [mailto:jmahon01@...]
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 2:18 PM
To: sunfish_sailor@...
Subject: [sunfish_sailor] Pitch for an inexpensive Tell-Tail
If any of you are sailing your Sunfish without a "Tell-Tail" (a wind
indicator), I highly recommend that you try making the one shown on
WINDLINE. It is easy to make .... and works really great! The
materials to make it probably cost about 10 cents.... and it may take
about 10 minutes of your time to make it. I used this one to replace
a $15-20 "Tell-Tail" which I had lost in a spill (actually, I think
this home-made one works better than the one I lost). Check it out
at:
For those that may be unfamiliar with a "Tell-tail" ...... it enables
you to always know which direction your RELATIVE wind is coming
from .... in order that you can set your sail accordingly, to take
advantage of it. It is ESPECIALLY useful on those days, when there is
seemingly little or no wind, but I find it useful even on days when
the wind is brisk.
Happy sailing!
/JM
