Trim For Control

“Proper Sail Trim is all about balance. All boats will go faster,be more comfortable to sail and will handle more easily when sailing on their lines.”

The Goals

Upwind:VMG

Offwind: Maximizing Power

At All Times: Controlling Heel

HEADSAIL TRIM & CONTROLSMAINSAIL TRIM & CONTROLS

Optimum VMG =

Beneteau First 36.7 Target Boat Speeds and Angles UPWIND TARGETS DOWNWIND TARGETS

TWS TWA Boat Speed Heel TWS TWA Boat Speed Heel 4 46.8 3.44 2.7 4 141 3.18 .5 6 45.0 4.74 5.8 6 144 4.52 .8 8 43.1 5.57 9.9 8 147 5.54 1.1

10 41.8 6.05 15.6 10 151 6.28 1.2 12 40.8 6.27 18.4 12 159 6.58 .9 14 40.0 6.37 20.3 14 167 6.87 .7 16 39.6 6.42 21.8 16 169 7.27 .7 20 40.4 6.49 22.7 20 171 8.01 1.0 25 42.5 6.53 23.0 25 169 9.01 2.2 30 45.6 6.55 23.4 30 159 10.98 7.3

the upwind problem

Sail Depth = Power = Heel

Headsail: primary controls

Genoa/Jib Sheet Lead Position Halyard Tension Backstay

Sheet Tension

jib sheet tension

why do we need to adjust sail trim

telltales and trim / driving

Halyard Tension

Lead Position

Use tell-tales to set initial lead position

Move lead aft to flatten bottom and twist off top - this will depower the sail

Move lead forward to increase power in sail

Power Control: headstay sag

Adjusting backstay is primary control of headstay sag

Light air - a little sag is often good

Heavy air - too much sag will hurt the boats ability to go to weather and cause excessive heel

The Mainsail Main Sheet Traveller Vang Halyard Tension

Cunningham Preventer Backstay Outhaul

mainsheet

mainsheet rule of thumb

twist for control

Why do we need to control twist

mainsheet off the wind

Vang

controls twist off the wind

traveler

Luff Tension

CunninghamHalyard Tension

Mainsail Depth

Outhaul - Controls depth in lower third

Backstay - Controls depth in middle/top

Three Modes of Trim

Reefing / the clew

reefing / the tack

Putting it All Together

and more…