Sail trim pictures

[Kyle Ewing]

I finally got around to taking pictures of sailshape.  Boat was close-hauled into 8-10 knots of wind.  Boat speed was 3.5 to 4 knots (dirty bottom, 3 bladed fixed prop).  Mainsail Loose.jpg shows mainsail with looser halyard, outhaul, and mainsheet for fuller shape.  Mainsail Tight.jpg shows mainsail with tight halyard, outhaul, and mainsheet.  Genoa.jpg shows shape of 150 genoa.  Tacking angle was about 95 degrees.  Genoa is by UK, 3 seasons old.  Mainsail is a Doyle with Stack-Pak and I assume is original.

Comments on sailshape are welcome.
 

[Stu Jackson]

Genoa looks fine

Both mainsail pictures, too much outhaul causing the folds in the aft portion of the main, not enough tension on the luff results in too many scallops on the luff

[tonywright]

I agree with Stu about the luff. I always like to have a cunningham cringle to get those folds out

I would suggest you alos have not enough twist in the main, so the leech is too tight: look at the stalled telltales on the leech. So ease off on the vang all the way. and bring the traveller to windward, then ease the mainsheet. You will open up the leech and get better windflow and lift.  If the main gets backwinded, think about easling the genoa a little, or opening the slot by moveing the genoa fairlead aft.

Tony

[Mike Vaccaro]

Have found that the Garhauer rope clutches that secure the halyards can slip (we use Sta-set X for our halyards), resulting in a luff that looks like your photos.  Your two options are to use a cunningham in the lowest cringle on the luff or occasionally tighten the halyard.  A cascade rig secured to the mast base works well for a cunningham, allowing you to adjust the tension from time to time to compensate for the halyard tension.

We kept the original clam cleat for the main sheet, so when we want to adjust the halyard, we drop the sheet into the cleat to free up the winch for the halyard.  If we're not racing, will head up to tension the halyard. 

Out haul tension is more a function of wind speed.  Our main is loose-footed and the basic rule of thumb is more wind=more out haul (i.e., flatter sail).  In light air, it's best to ease off to increase camber a bit. 

Cheers,

Mike