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2011 Wickford Regatta - Another North Win!
Report by Chuck Allen

Photo: Chuck Allen, Joe Healey, Vince Marcettos

North Sails customer Joe Healey from Noroton YC won the Viper Division at the 2011 Wickford Regatta. North One Design Chuck Allen and Vince Marcetto completed the team. We had winds around 12-16 knots on the first day and North sails completely dominated the day (3 races): up and down the course. On Sunday we saw lighter conditions, around 3-8 knots. We won the day (4 races): upwind we were above average and downwind we were simply lower and faster all around.

Here are some Tuning Notes from the winning team:

Headstay: 52 ½ at the data point, gets the boat pointing perfectly.
Uppers: 1-5 knots - we sail 25 on the uppers (Black Loos Gauge-small)/Lowers slack.
6-11 knots 27 on the uppers (2 Turns up)/Lowers slack.
12-16 knots 28 on the uppers (1 turn up)/Lowers slack. We probably could have sailed at 29 in this range.
Normal chocking at the partners until 16+, then adding one more block.
We sailed at around 550 lbs in total crew weight (this is a good middle weight for The Viper). Try not to venture 30 lbs on either side of this number.
In the 1-5 knot conditions, take the top batten out of the jib, you’ll see a much better shape and consider dropping the jib to the deck while sailing downwind, but put up just before jibing.
We played with the jib leads finding three locations, any type of flat water keep moving the lead forward, the leech will get hooked into the spreader pretty good. If feeling slow in a lane-ease the sheet a click, the top of the leech won’t open too much with the lead forward. The next two locations aft are usually adjusted as you change the rig settings.
We like to McLube the front of the jib and the takedown area to the spinnaker tube. Add Teflon Tape to the front of the spinnaker tube where it attaches at the tube/deck. If you can afford “Millionaire’s Tape” this is best!
Treat the kite with McLube (properly/loft)-helps with in and out and absorbsion of water.
McLube the pole in and out too.
Have good “Go To” marks on the jib sheets and mainsheet for quick reference when rounding marks, tacking, etc…
Do not ever let the keel get to the leeward side of the mast unless trying to sail low for a gate mark or something - important.

For more deatils on the regatta or if you have any questions about the tuning notes, please contact North Viper expert Chuck Allen.

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2010 Wickford Regatta - North Sails 1st!

North Sails won The Viper Class at The Wickford Regatta this past weekend here in RI.Zach Freeborn, Chuck Allen and John Fonseca teamed up on USA 85, Zach’s boat. This was Zach’s first time sailing with North Pentex Upwind Sails and latest Spinnaker Design… The eventwas sailed in 7-14 knots. At the lower end we found ourselves to be just faster upwind andreally fast downwind on all boats. When the breeze came up to full hiking conditions and the sailsgot bladed out slightly-we had wicked fast speed upwind and better than average downwind speed.

We used the tuning numbers from the North Tuning Guide. Photo of main was taken in 7-9 knots before we tweaked the top tension on the upper battens, once we did this the sail was smooth all around. The jib set up perfectly with all the luff connections fitting nicely, this sail really reacts to the Viper Fine-Tune Superbly. Lastly, the spinnaker design was the fastest on the water, enabling our team to sail lower than boats around.

2009 Heineken Open - North Sails 1*,3,4!
The Heneken High performance Dinghy Open regatta was held at American Yacht club. The Viper class was won by Justin Scott using his North main and jib. Justin defeated the North American Champion, Lee Shuckerow by 6 points in the 9 race series. In third place was Stu Hebb using all North sails. Justin used the same main and jib he has used for all regattas this season demonstrating the superior durability of the North sails. For more information on the North One design Viper sails contact the North Viper experts.
Click here for complete results
* North partial inventory

2009 NOOD Marblehead - North Sails 1st!
Congratulations again, Justin Scott! Powered by North Sails!

2009 Coastal Living Sail Newport Regatta - North Sails 1*,2!
Congratulations 1st place Justin Scott and Ben Jacobsen sailing with North main and jib, and second place Hebb Stuart sailing with full North inventory. For more information on the North One design Viper sails contact the North Viper experts.

2009 Charleston Race Week - North Sails 1,2!
Charleston Race week featured a full range of conditions in the three day regatta. 28 Vipers competed in the 10 race series. Competition was close among the top 9 places. In the end 2 boats with full North One Design Inventories finished first and second. First was David Guggenheim ably assisted by Ethan Bixby and Mark Cribbs. Second was Stu Hebb, with Ci Ci Imbrie and Ched Proctor. Friday's races were sailed in a building North-Northeast breeze which built to a solid 22- 25 knots resulting in some exciting downwind rides and spectacular wipe outs. 4 races were run. Saturday was lighter starting with a light air race, and built to 10-12 for the last of 3 races that day. Sunday's 3 races had the wind out of the South making for flat water and a shifty breeze. For more information on the North One design Viper sails contact the North Viper experts.
Click here for complete results

2009 Coral Reef Cup - North Sails 1,2*!
Boats equiped with North mains and jibs dominated the Viper 640 racing at the 2009 Coral Reef Cup. Finishing first aas Stu Hebb sailing his first ever Viper regatta. Second was class president Justin Scott. Conditions were light for the first race building to a typical Biscayne Bay 15 knots by the end of the third race. 2 races were sailed on Saturday in 12-14 from the North East also. Sunday's 2 races were sailed in solid 18-22 providing super fast downwind rides. Stu Hebb used the North main, jib and spinnaker. Justin's co skipper was Jeff Lee and his regular crew Len Burke. Stu was assisted by CeCe Embrie and Ched Proctor. * North partial inventory
Click here for complete results

2009 St. Pete NOOD - North Sails 1*,3,4
Viper class president and North American champion, Justin Scott used a New North main and jib to win the Viper class at the St. Petersburg NOOD regatta. In third place was David Guggenheim using a new North Main, jib and spinnaker. Fourth was North customer Jason Weisberg. Conditions were light.
For more information on the North One design Viper sails contact the North Viper experts.
* North main and jib

For more information on Viper sails, contact the North Viper experts.