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Shifting gears
The different gears
We will first define and name several different gears and later
explain when one should use these gears to get the most out
of a boat.
1. Normal Mode
This will be the gear that we use as a reference, i.e. backstay
looser than normal, sheet eased more than normal etc. Normal
mode could be defined as the settings used when there are no
other boats to worry about, steady winds, tides and flat water.
When sailing your optimum VMG upwind you must find the perfect
balance between sailing high and sailing fast. This setting
is usually used in about 8-12 knots of wind or when the crew
just starts to hike. The genoa leads should be set so the bottom
and top tell-tails break evenly and the sheet should be trimmed
just hard enough to maintain a constant speed. The genoa halyard
should be set so the draft of the sail is between 40-45% aft
of the luff. The main should also be trimmed so the boat speed
can remain at a constant speed without much effort. The traveler
should be nearly center-lined, the sheet should be tight enough
so the top batten is nearly parallel to the boom and the outhaul
fairly tight. The backstay will be in a medium to tight setting
depending on the wind.
2. Two Sail Reaching
Most races start out in this mode during the pre-start. Make
no mistake, it is just as important to set the boat up for maximum
speed before the start, as it is once your are on the racecourse.
If you can carry good speed into all of your pre-start maneuvers
you will have more control of the boat's position when the race
starts. Set the boat up with a headstay that is about 30% looser
than your upwind tension for the given conditions. Move your
genoa leads forward 4-5 inches to prevent the top of the genoa
from twisting off too much. Ease the halyard slightly from your
upwind mark. No matter how strong your Genoa halyard is it will
stretch as you begin to harden up onto the wind and trim the
sail in. Easing your halyard when not sailing upwind will also
make your headsails last longer. Typically, when reaching back
and forth, the traveler is centered. When the traveler is centered,
the boom vang should be tensioned until the top and the bottom
of the mainsail begin to luff at the same time. If you have
a choice of tacking or jibing, try to jibe to minimize the loss
of speed.
3. Power Mode
Power mode is the mode you use when sailing in bad air from
another boat on the racecourse, light air, or choppy seas. Typically
the rig setup will be a looser headstay and tighter checkstays.
The Mainsheet should be set up with a higher than usual traveler,
the leech must be open so the top batten has about 3-5 degrees
of twist. The outhaul should be set slightly looser than normal
in order to maximize the sail's drive. The headsail should be
set up with the leads forward, the halyard slightly eased and
the sheet 2-3 inches looser than normal.
4. Point Mode
Sailing in point mode is one of the most difficult to sail in
since the groove is very narrow. It is critical to compromise
only 1 or 2 tenths of a knot of boat speed so that the keel
continues to work. If you try to higher, you will lose more
in boat speed than you will gain in height, as the boat will
start to slide sideways. It is very important to maintain a
steady speed. When switching to point mode, the first adjustment
is to tighten the backstay. Then the mainsail should be trimmed
to give the driver more helm. Start with the sheet trimmed tight
(top batten 1-2 degrees beyond parallel to the boom, or tell-tails
just stalling). Move the traveler so it is at or just above
centerline. The boat speed will not hold steady for too long
so try build speeds by easing the traveler not the mainsheet
in order to reduce the drag of the sail. The genoa should be
trimmed with the halyard tight, the lead moved aft and the sheet
on hard. The sail should be into the top spreader and the lower
shroud. This, combined with a tight headstay, will flatten out
the headsail significantly. Do not ease the genoa sheet to build
speed if the weather tell-tails are luffing. Rather tell the
helmsman to fall off then ease slightly.
5. Light Air Wave Mode
When sailing in waves and light air you should generally try
to sail your normal speed numbers and sacrifice a little height.
Do this by sailing with the boat slightly heeled and the sails
set for a big groove. Ease the backstay a little to allow a
wider entry on the genoa and a more powerful mainsail. Trim
the mainsail with the traveler high and the sheet and outhaul
eased for power. Sheet the genoa with the leads forward and
the sheet and halyard eased to give the genoa more punch.
6. Heavy Air Wave Mode
Just as when sailing in waves and light air, in a breeze you
should try to sail with your normal boat speed and a little
less height. It is very important to make sure the helmsman
has a very forgiving groove to both steer over the waves and
have the ability to build speed quickly. Do this by twisting
off the top of the sails. Make sure the backstay is tight to
reduce any slop in the headstay. Sail with the main traveler
higher than normal in a breeze and the sheet eased. Trim the
genoa with the leads moved aft, the halyard tight and the sheet
hard on the bottom and twisted a little more than usual up high.
If the mainsail is twisted and the genoa is tight, the boat
will never achieve maximum speed, try to always sail with the
leeches of both sails twisted evenly.
7. De-powered Mode
Once the crew is fully hiked and the main trimmer needs to start
luffing the main to keep the boat from heeling too much you
need to start de-powering the boat. Do this by first sailing
with the backstay as tight as it will go. Then trim the genoa
with the leads aft, halyard tight and the sheet tight. Tighten
the outhaul as tight as it will go and start to use Cunningham
to flatten the mainsail out even more. When looking for height,
sail with the sheet loose and the traveler high. When a puff
hits, ease the traveler until the sail begins to luff, try not
to let the all of the sail luff except the leech where the battens
are. When looking for more speed, trim the sheet a little harder
and ease the traveler as low as it will go, before the mainsail
begins to luff. When a puff hits, ease the sheet as much as
possible without letting the battens and leech luff.
8. Speed Mode
When you are less worried about height and more worried about
sailing fast you need to set the boat up for maximum speed.
Do this by easing the backstay 20%, and putting the bow down
2-3 degrees and hiking extremely hard. Trim the headsail slightly
loose, with the lead just slightly forward. Ease the mainsheet
a little and then lower the traveler as far as possible without
luffing the mainsail. This will allow you drive off and let
the boat sail fast without producing too much helm.
Page 3... Tactical reasons
for shifting gears
Back to Expert tips
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