Stop Sailing Slow Andy Camarda Evolution Sails USA Sail Depth Sail Depth Sail Depth • Sail depth is measured at the deepest point • Generally measured at draft stripes • Depth can vary from top to bottom Sail Depth • A DEEP SAIL WILL • Create more power and more drag • Be easier to drive with a wider groove • Ideal for under powered conditions and waves • A FLAT SAIL WILL • Create less power and less drag • Keep the boat on its feet in big breeze • Flatten sails for big breeze and flat water • Exception: drifting conditions Draft position Draft Position • Draft position is the deepest part of the sail • Draft position is measured as a percentage of the overall chord length Draft Position • Targets • Mainsail 40%-45% • Jibs 30%-35% • Genoas 35%-40% • Draft too far forward: the sail stalls out and has a narrow groove • Draft too far aft: the sail creates too much drag and heels the boat over Draft Position Draft Position Sail twist Twist • Twist is a measurement of how open or closed the top of the sail is compared to the bottom • Measured at the top batten More twist • A SAIL WITH MORE TWIST WILL: • Let power off the top to keep the boat flat • Create a wider and more forgiving groove • Ideal for very light and heavy conditions, especially with waves Less Twist Less Twist • A CLOSED SAIL WITH LESS TWIST WILL: • Power up the sail and create more heeling moment • Push the bow up to the wind for better point • Ideal for medium conditions and flat water New Sail Development Step One – Set Parameters and Goals • Sizing – One design and fit • Shape – Must be able to handle 0-25+, versatile • Durability – Must be able to handle a lot of races per season • Performance – Needed to be easy to drive and fast across all conditions Starting Point Starting Point Starting Point Starting Point – Mold Shape First Attempts Prototypes Final Product Rig Tune Basics • Finding your center • Set you base • Fine tune Centering the Rig CAPS CAPS SHROUD TERMINOLOGY Centering the Rig • How does everyone center their rig? • Tape measure • Weighted halyard • Measure up • Find an equal point on each side • Shroud base, toe rail, etc. • Not all boats are symmetric! • Backstay off Get the rig in column Go Sailing Fine Tuning the Rig Mast Sag/Poke Mast Sag/Poke MAST SAG: When the middle of the mast falls to leeward while sailing upwind MAST POKE: When the middle of the mast “pokes” to weather while sailing upwind • Mast sag creates a deeper mainsail Mast Sag/poke LIGHT AIR: On an average 35 foot boat, look for ½ to 1 mast width sag to leeward. MEDIUM AIR: This should be your base setting, the middle of the mast should be in line with the top and bottom HEAVY AIR: the mast should be in line to poked ½ mast width Headstay Sag Headstay sag Headstay Sag DEFINITION: The amount of distance your headstay lies leeward of an imaginary straight line. • More headstay sag creates more power • Less headstay sag is better for heavy air • If the rig is bouncing around in waves, tighten the shrouds or headstay to remove sag Headstay Sag LIGHT AIR: On an average 35 footer, you are looking for 4”-6” of headstay sag in light and sloppy conditions. MEDIUM AIR: In medium conditions you are looking for 2”-4” of headstay sag, a little more in waves, a little less in flat water. HEAVY AIR: The goal is to remove all or nearly all of the headstay sag. Depending on the rig you can go between 0”-2” Prebend Prebend • Generally boats with straight spreaders and masthead/genoa set ups will have less prebend, usually between 2”-4”. • Boats with swept back spreaders and fraction rigs will have more prebend and a better ability to adjust the rig. • Prebend on an average 35 foot boat with a modern rig will range between 2” in light air and 6”+ in heavy air Prebend Rake DEFINITION: The amount the tip of the rig is aft of the base of the rig, measured by dropping a weight from the top of the mast. • More rake aft creates weather helm • Less rake aft creates leeward helm • Rake numbers vary greatly from boat to boat. • The average 35 footer will have a base rake of 6” to 12” aft. Tuning Guide Sail Trim Heel Angle • Light Air (0-8): Max heel to reduce wetted surface and to use gravity to fill the sails • Medium Air (8-16): Heel the boat so the helm just starts to pull away from the skipper • Heavy Air (16+): Hike harder! Try to keep the heel angle at 10-15 degrees 1 2 3 Sail Controls Halyards/Cunningham LUFF FULL LEECH FLAT Cunningham Halyard Rules of Thumb • Light Air: Set the sail up with depth and light horizontal wrinkles • Medium Air: Aim for a smooth luff, barely pulling at the wrinkles • Heavy Air: Set the sail up for a flat shape with a tight luff, showing a vertical wrinkle while luffing OUTHAUL Outhaul Rules of Thumb • Match the depth in the foot to the rest of the sail • In light Air: 4+” of gap between the boom and the sail • Medium Air: 1-3” of gap between the sail and the boom • Heavy Air: Foot of the sail touching the boom and tight with a wrinkle Setting the lead position • Base • Jib: All telltales breaking equally on the sail • Genoa: The foot hits the shrouds at the same time it hits the shrouds • Light/Medium Air: At base or just in front in waves • Heavy Air: Move the lead back to depower the boat Jib Leads • Step one: Sail an upwind course in 10-12 knots and start trimming the jib in • Step two: Watch the leech telltale on the top batten, stop trimming when it stalls • Step three: Ease until the telltale starts flying again, this is your max trim Jib Leads • Step four: With your jib at max trim, slowly head up • Step five: Watch the luff tell tales for when the inners break • Step 6: If the top telltales break before the lowers your lead is too far back Troubleshooting Jib Leads • TOO FAR BACK • The bottom of the jib will be very flat • The top of the jib will be open and spilling off air • The boat will feel under powered • TOO FAR FORWARD • The leech telltale will stall before the jib is fully trimmed • The bottom of the sail will be very deep • The boat will be over powered • The main will show a lot of return from the jib Jib Lead Mind the Slot Mast Bend Backstay Settings • Light Air: Just enough to remove the bounce • Medium Air: Slowly increase as needed to depower the boat • Heavy Air: Pull until the sail has diagonal wrinkles to the spreaders and ease Backstay Headstay Sag Headstay sag Weight Placement • Forward and aft positioning • Light Air: Weight centered around the keel (just aft of the mast) • Medium Air: 1-2 forward of the shrouds, everyone else as close as possible • Heavy Air: 1 forward of the shrouds, big waves none in front Questions • How to prevent the wind from bouncing in light air? • How much batten tension? • How many jibs does a T-10 need? • Creating repeatable backstay settings • Which tuning guide do you recommend? • Should you take the top batten out of the jib in light air? GRAND OPENING SALE.