Sail trim upwind

tcraig812

Member
I'm new to Laser sailing and have a full size rig. Yesterday I was out with 20 mph winds and while beating upwind I usually had a flutter in the upper 20% of the leach. I fiddled with all of the controls but couldn't remove the flutter. Any ideas? Thanks
 
Laser leech flutter always happens in heavy winds even with a brand new sail.

This is partly down to the fact that the sail stretches as the weight of wind increases and partly down to the fact that you should have large amounts of cunningham on to open the 4th corner of the sail (and flatten the leading edge).

Personally in heavier airs i use an older sail that I dont mind stretching the hell out of and keep my 'good' sail for lighter winds.
 
At wich windspeeds can one expect a new sail to flutter ? I had my new Rooster sail out in 20-25 knots of wind with various degress of flutter starting between the two top battens spreading downwards with increasing wind. I didn't find any way to change that. What to do?
 
Use an old sail.....

I doubt you will be able to eliminate the flutter and all you will do is knacker your nearly new sail very quickly.
 
Use an old sail.....

I doubt you will be able to eliminate the flutter and all you will do is knacker your nearly new sail very quickly.
So it's to expect flutter to begin already at 20 knots and not the sail being of less then fair average quality.
 
So it's to expect flutter to begin already at 20 knots and not the sail being of less then fair average quality.

I would say so. I just notice that most Laser sails flutter in higher winds. the older the sail the lower the wind strength it will flutter in. Until the leech 'lets go' completely then it flutters in pretty much any wind (and you may as well chuck it away at that point).
 

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