TOPIC:

Hello. I'm a relatively experienced sailor who is new to the Albacore. Our boat number is 524. The hull was renovated a year ago and new sails bought. It wintered in a neighbours garage and I'm getting ready to sail and race it this year. Would appreciate any advice (other than time on the water and in the boat) on how to learn about the Albacore and how to handle it. Many thanks.

Hi there and welcome to the class. Various sailmakers publish guides to setting up your boat - Michael McNamara and P&B may have them on their websites, and obviously if you buy new sails from them they will show you how set the boat up.
You don't say where you sail - if you can join a club with several other Albacores, their owners will help - just ask them.
The Albacore has no spinnaker and as we all should know that boats go fastest upwind with the mast raked back (and the windier it is, the more rake used), and faster downwind with the mast upright or leaning forward. Top flight Albacores (and many other classes) have various systems to enable the mast to be raked back and forward under rig tension. However this only matters if you sail on large lakes or the sea with long course legs. If you sail on a small or medium sized lake then adjusting rig rake will only distract you from getting the next windshift, so I would recommend setting the rig rake at the start and then forgetting about it.
The kicker is your main sail control - most people use too much in light weather and not enough in a big breeze. One tip about gybing in a lot of wind is top let the kicker go completely just before the gybe, and pull it on immediately afterwards -it takes the sting out of the gybe.

Morning Jeremy and thanks for the reply. The new sails were bought from McNamara so I'll contact them re setting up guides. We live in north west Scotland and so were unable to present the boat to the sail-maker. I live on Sleat, Isle of Skye. My club is in Plockton where there is a mixed fleet with one Albacore. Have met one other active Albacore sailor out with the club - Dangerous Dave won the Gairloch regatta a few years ago. I'll contact both of them for advice.
I'll take on board all that you have recommended. Where do you sail yourself? Think I gave the wrong sail number for our boat - its 1524

The Isle of Skye sounds a very romantic location ! I sail at Lyme Regis in Dorset

Aye, Its a grand spot. Abundance of good sailing ground. Look forward to exploring the coasts as well as competing with the boat. If your ever for these parts then feel free to get in touch.

Hi and welcome to the class, a bit of advice learned from experience with older boats, i woudnt set up adjustable rigging wnd multi purchases, the old hull and glues wont stand the stress, set the mast up to an average setting and leave it there, dont try and put the rig tension on as per tuning gudes the boat wont stand it, trust helpful, Graham

Hello Graham. Thanks for the welcome and the advice which I'll be sure to follow. For clarification: Does your message advise not to set up the adjustable rigging with multiple purchases? Are there different average settings - e.g. sailing under new sails, sailing in light winds, sailing in heavy sea? Many thanks again

If you contact Steve Patch at Lochcarron sailing club, he know a great deal about Albacores and very willing to help people.
I am a life member at Lochcarron and lived for over 20 years in Sutherland.

Paul Sleeman
Albacore 7500 & 8190

Hello Paul. thanks for the reply and apologies about the delayed reply. Steve is a great recommendation - I often bump into him at sailing events locally and in the Co-op. Will get in touch. He has a friend up your way called Geoff, who is a good sailor. Do you know the Albacore 'Dangerous Dave'? thanks again.