Not sure if this has been talked about before. Is there any loss of speed using an uphaul rope GPS sailing. I got 39.956 knots yesterday and wonder if I didnt have an uphaul that would have got me over 40. Its quite a thick uphaul.
No not at all, if you hang/lean out off it and get more leverage like the Formula dudes 
.
If everything was constant, wind, water state over a long distance with it flapping about on the leeward side of the sail it may have a slight negative affect.
For 10-20sec hmmm ....I'd say the sailor, wind strength and water state has more an effect on cracking 40 or averaging it on general speed/SL kit.
I reckon an uphaul reduces speed by 0.044 knots. Losing it should get your 40 back!
Select to expand quoteSteve Charles said..
>>>>>>> I got 39.956 knots yesterday and wonder if I didnt have an uphaul that would have got me over 40. Its quite a thick uphaul.
Have you checked the SDoP numbers, it's probably around +/- 0.3kts, so 40kts is well within the margin of accuracy.
And if you are using a GT31, a GW52 could easily have given you another 0.1kt, as it's higher Hz can center the peak better.
In all honesty worrying about small fractions of a knot is a problem our heads create.
But if you're after a 40knt PB, those very blurry numbers are so important!
Aren't we strange creatures?
40kn combo you wouldn't be able to uphaul anyway.
Lose the uphaul every little thing helps .
Select to expand quoteTRIMMER said..
40kn combo you wouldn't be able to uphaul anyway.
Lose the uphaul every little thing helps .
Agree ..I purchased a big pro limit uphaul rope ..it bends and flaps around ..it gotta cause some drag ..I might ditch it .
I have read loose all hanging items and tie all ropes off ...
like anything ,the more aerodynamic you are the better ...
Would this get me another knot (i need all i can get) minus the ski and poles of course
I disagree with most of the posters above.
To do 40 you have to go deep. The angle of attack at the leading edge is quite high. You can see the guys with fine entry on the leading edge of their slalom sails run out of puff at Liptons right where they should be getting their best speeds. I suspect their sails are stalling. One way to reduce stalling is to have turbulators near the leading edge. This helps the flow stay attached allowing the sail to operate at a greater AoA thereby increasing lift. Your up-haul rope may be having the same effect.
Of course you could have solved the question yourself by running with and without the up-haul and told us of your findings. 
Select to expand quotecol5555 said..
Would this get me another knot (i need all i can get) minus the ski and poles of course
Ha ..yeah I'd pay to see you windsurfing in that getup...more like a Kathy Freeman running suit ...its hard trying to be aerodynamics as a windsurfer .
Would you uphaul your speed board? Or is there enough wind to beach and waterstart?
Select to expand quotecol5555 said..
Would this get me another knot (i need all i can get) minus the ski and poles of course
If you try that minus the skis, you will sure get something exciting! 
Select to expand quoteberowne said...
I shove my uphaul inside the sail. It's there if I need it and not if I don't! 
What a great idea.never thought of that.
Did 2 year's worth of speed trial's sailing in California and Oregon.
What's the point of the uphaul? Are you going for speed times in winds you can't waterstart in?
Not everyone "speed" sails on a speed board in the GPSTC.
Not everyone sails in consistent winds straight in front of where they park.
We've had winds drop out 4-6km away from base, it's a long way to walk a floaty board in waist to chest deep water in the middle of winter.
Waist to chest deep water is the easiest to waterstart in the lightest of breeze, probably around 5 mph with any size sail.
Just stand on the bottom, sail up in the breeze, step on the tail of the board, sink it to the bottom, then you have hardly any angle for the wind to need to pull you up, as you step vertically right onto the board.
And why would you fall in lighter breeze, with a speed board...or slalom, knowing the wind is light, and you're far from your launch?
Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
Waist to chest deep water is the easiest to waterstart in the lightest of breeze, probably around 5 mph with any size sail.
Just stand on the bottom, sail up in the breeze, step on the tail of the board, sink it to the bottom, then you have hardly any angle for the wind to need to pull you up, as you step vertically right onto the board.
And why would you fall in lighter breeze, with a speed board...or slalom, knowing the wind is light, and you're far from your launch?
Are you purposely trying to insult the intelligence and abilities of people you don't even know?
What's an uphaul . Don't own a board that floats me ,so an uphaul has no place on my boards.
Only regret is not having one when I need one 
Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
Waist to chest deep water is the easiest to waterstart in the lightest of breeze, probably around 5 mph with any size sail.
Just stand on the bottom, sail up in the breeze, step on the tail of the board, sink it to the bottom, then you have hardly any angle for the wind to need to pull you up, as you step vertically right onto the board.
And why would you fall in lighter breeze, with a speed board...or slalom, knowing the wind is light, and you're far from your launch?
Not all of us are legends of the sport and occasionally the wind switches of over here
Recently noticed PWA sailor Finish Maynard holding onto his uphaul whilst racing in Sylt event, much like what most RS-X Olympic sailors do.
GPS and SPEED trials.
You you float around uphauling your board in slogging winds, under 7 mph?
I KNOW you can waterstart in 10 mph breezes.
As Fangy has said, lets not feed the troll!! At least I think that's what he means, Im not real bright. 
You quote racing.
Naish always uses an uphaul.
This thread is about SPEED TRIALS! SPEED SAILING!
it's NOT about slogging around.
Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
You quote racing.
Naish always uses an uphaul.
This thread is about SPEED TRIALS! SPEED SAILING!
it's NOT about slogging around.
Hey, look. I'm sorry I made you clean the toilets and the bathtubs, I mean, who did all the work in bed?
My Mum says I have to have an uphaul.
- There's the element of being able to grab it at last second to save a gybe or tack.
- You can also quickly pull the sail up and over and waterstart it on a better angle (even on a sinker).
- You can stay on the board and not get your hair wet.
- Taking long periods of time to waterstart in marginal conditions is unnecessary.
- Swimming your rig home can be undignified if your mates are around.
- Yes, it would be a tiny bit slower for top end speed GPS.
Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
>>>
This thread is about SPEED TRIALS! SPEED SAILING!
it's NOT about slogging around.
Well Lee, the thread title actually says, "GPS and speed talk", that has to include the GTC, in there we have hour and distance divisions, it's not all about speed. If you're going for distance, it can certainly be in marginal up down conditions, where a big floaty board will keep you sailing through the lulls, and yes an uphaul will get you on the board and slogging rather than wallowing around in the water waiting for a gust to water start.
If the board I'm sailing has enough volume to uphaul I alwaysSelect to expand quoteda vecta said..
My Mum says I have to have an uphaul.
- There's the element of being able to grab it at last second to save a gybe or tack.
- You can also quickly pull the sail up and over and waterstart it on a better angle (even on a sinker).
- You can stay on the board and not get your hair wet.
- Taking long periods of time to waterstart in marginal conditions is unnecessary.
- Swimming your rig home can be undignified if your mates are around.
- Yes, it would be a tiny bit slower for top end speed GPS.
Thanks Brendon, you have made my day
