Years ago, when I was wondering if I'd ever master the skill of sail trim, I came across some articles which suggested some helpful phrases. I can't locate the articles but the following was what they were all about. Some of the phrases turned out to be incomplete and since I was learning that the mastery of sail trim is continuous, up to a point, I added additions to them. By "up to a point" I mean sail trim is not nuclear research that goes on forever. It's like riding a bike - there's only so much to it.
"When in doubt let it out". That's a popular phrase, but it's incomplete. After you "let it out" what do you do next and how far do you let it out. Does the phrase apply to both the main & jib and what point of sail are we talking about?
Let's start with closehauled where the sailor sense's that a change needs to be made but isn't sure what it is - if he has telltales they'll provide the clue. The phrase, when applied to the mainsail and mainsheet, starts to make sense when you add "if the sail luffs bring it in" but again, how much should it come in. Here's what worked for me -- I'd ease the mainsheet until luff ripples appear and then trimmed in until the ripples just stopped. I called that "trim to a point of draw" and that tip is included in my SAIL TRIM CHART" along with a bunch of other tips.
Let's consider the jib in the same situation. If you have telltales, it's a simple matter because one of the telltales will dictate the course of action. If you don't have telltales I don't know how you properly trim your jib to 100% efficiency. Without telltales I couldn't and I know what I'm looking for!! The phrase for the jib is "if the outside telltale is fluttering - trim out. If the inside telltale is fluttering - trim in". So, here we go again - how much in or out. The basic setting is to have both inside & outside telltales streaming. In my book, THE SAIL TRIM USERS GUIDE, I devote 5 pages to reading telltales and offer some advanced setting.
At one of my seminars a participant told me he was too lazy to trim his sheets and inquired if I had a phrase that would help him. He might have been trying to trip me up - there's always one in every group but I was prepared. I told him to "turn away from trouble", which means if the starboard telltale is fluttering then turn to port.
If any forum lister's have a phrase that would be helpful to beginners trying to master the art of sail trim, please provide them.
"When in doubt let it out". That's a popular phrase, but it's incomplete. After you "let it out" what do you do next and how far do you let it out. Does the phrase apply to both the main & jib and what point of sail are we talking about?
Let's start with closehauled where the sailor sense's that a change needs to be made but isn't sure what it is - if he has telltales they'll provide the clue. The phrase, when applied to the mainsail and mainsheet, starts to make sense when you add "if the sail luffs bring it in" but again, how much should it come in. Here's what worked for me -- I'd ease the mainsheet until luff ripples appear and then trimmed in until the ripples just stopped. I called that "trim to a point of draw" and that tip is included in my SAIL TRIM CHART" along with a bunch of other tips.
Let's consider the jib in the same situation. If you have telltales, it's a simple matter because one of the telltales will dictate the course of action. If you don't have telltales I don't know how you properly trim your jib to 100% efficiency. Without telltales I couldn't and I know what I'm looking for!! The phrase for the jib is "if the outside telltale is fluttering - trim out. If the inside telltale is fluttering - trim in". So, here we go again - how much in or out. The basic setting is to have both inside & outside telltales streaming. In my book, THE SAIL TRIM USERS GUIDE, I devote 5 pages to reading telltales and offer some advanced setting.
At one of my seminars a participant told me he was too lazy to trim his sheets and inquired if I had a phrase that would help him. He might have been trying to trip me up - there's always one in every group but I was prepared. I told him to "turn away from trouble", which means if the starboard telltale is fluttering then turn to port.
If any forum lister's have a phrase that would be helpful to beginners trying to master the art of sail trim, please provide them.
