light air sailing
- Thread starter windwagon
- Start date
49208
Tentmaker
Welcome.
Tell us more about the wind and sea state (size of waves, and if they are affecting your speed) and your weight
There are various setups, but they are fairly fine tuned to the above 3 parameters
Also, we have a mix of full rig and radial sailors here, so it helps to specify which.
Tell us more about the wind and sea state (size of waves, and if they are affecting your speed) and your weight
There are various setups, but they are fairly fine tuned to the above 3 parameters
Also, we have a mix of full rig and radial sailors here, so it helps to specify which.
upwind- get forward (next to the centreboard) lean the boat slightly to leeward, minimise body and tiller movement. no vang, no downhaul (excepot if there is major horizontal crinkles in the sail) and 1.5-2 handwidths of depth in the sail
reach - still forward, same sail settings except a little vang to keep the leech of the sail from twisting too much
downwind- same body position except lean the boat to windward now to get the rig higher and reduce wetted surface area. same sail settings
ill probably be proven wrong but this is what i do and it works pretty nicely
reach - still forward, same sail settings except a little vang to keep the leech of the sail from twisting too much
downwind- same body position except lean the boat to windward now to get the rig higher and reduce wetted surface area. same sail settings
ill probably be proven wrong but this is what i do and it works pretty nicely
Michelle
New Member
In extremely light air when going downwind sail by the lee, and have the boom out a little past 90 degrees, and heel to windward. Gravity will hold the boom out.
Keep all movements in the boat slow and smooth; stay as still as possible.
For upwind when it's smooth and super-light, actually tighten the outhaul a bit so the sail is not too full (it stalls out easier). Don't two-block the main; leave it out 4 inches or so.
Keep all movements in the boat slow and smooth; stay as still as possible.
For upwind when it's smooth and super-light, actually tighten the outhaul a bit so the sail is not too full (it stalls out easier). Don't two-block the main; leave it out 4 inches or so.
144679
New Member
try to move around as little as possible, fast movements will shake the wind out of your sail,
49208
Tentmaker
Upwind settings that I use (slightly heavier then you)
0-3 kts
Outhaul set so foot is about 3-4" from boom at max depth (similar to very hvy air setting). Helps flow attach and stay attached
Cunningham - wrinkles removed from luff - again promote flow
Mainsheet - blocks at least 8-12" apart, further apart when trying to accelerate.
Vang - slack out with blocks at 8-12" - Vang induces mast bend, which is good as far as matching luff curve of sail to mast. Iif you use no vang, mainsheet tends to close the leech to much, which kills acceleration, and promotes flow to stall/dettach.
Weight placement - forward, on top of centerboard if possible and leeward heal
In 3-6 kts
Outhaul - eased from above setting so depth increases an inch or so (air flow has easier time attaching and staying attached at 6 kts)
Cunn - same or slightly eased (small luff wrinkles ok)
Mainsheet - slightly closer together then the 0-3 - basically use the mainsheet as the throttle - if you are going slow, ease sheet and iincrease block to block distance a couple of inches and drive off. (at this point vang should be tight) If you need to point, sheet in (but I never get closer then 4" apart in 6 kts of wind - vang should be slack)
Vang - match snug setting to avg mainsheet setting - again, I don't like the mainsheet being the only reason the mast if bending for the same tight leech reason, unless I'm trying to pinch someone off on my windward hip
Weight - more or less same as 0-3, at 6 kts you need to start thinking about sailing flat.
All body movements should have a reason and be smooth and light.
Reaching - nothing special to say, it sucks in light air when you are giving away 10-30 lbs or more.... I've found leeward heel better then windward heel, gravity helps to keep the sail full
Running - sailing by the lee can help, especially when you need to accelerate. You don't need much board
0-3 kts
Outhaul set so foot is about 3-4" from boom at max depth (similar to very hvy air setting). Helps flow attach and stay attached
Cunningham - wrinkles removed from luff - again promote flow
Mainsheet - blocks at least 8-12" apart, further apart when trying to accelerate.
Vang - slack out with blocks at 8-12" - Vang induces mast bend, which is good as far as matching luff curve of sail to mast. Iif you use no vang, mainsheet tends to close the leech to much, which kills acceleration, and promotes flow to stall/dettach.
Weight placement - forward, on top of centerboard if possible and leeward heal
In 3-6 kts
Outhaul - eased from above setting so depth increases an inch or so (air flow has easier time attaching and staying attached at 6 kts)
Cunn - same or slightly eased (small luff wrinkles ok)
Mainsheet - slightly closer together then the 0-3 - basically use the mainsheet as the throttle - if you are going slow, ease sheet and iincrease block to block distance a couple of inches and drive off. (at this point vang should be tight) If you need to point, sheet in (but I never get closer then 4" apart in 6 kts of wind - vang should be slack)
Vang - match snug setting to avg mainsheet setting - again, I don't like the mainsheet being the only reason the mast if bending for the same tight leech reason, unless I'm trying to pinch someone off on my windward hip
Weight - more or less same as 0-3, at 6 kts you need to start thinking about sailing flat.
All body movements should have a reason and be smooth and light.
Reaching - nothing special to say, it sucks in light air when you are giving away 10-30 lbs or more.... I've found leeward heel better then windward heel, gravity helps to keep the sail full
Running - sailing by the lee can help, especially when you need to accelerate. You don't need much board