When sailing my C310 upwind in about 20K apparent (30 degrees off) the mailsail is backwinded by the 135% head sail. The headsail is typically sheeted in tight, tell-tails looking great. The mainsail seems to drive almost entirely from the back, with lots of back-winding on the luff. I can reduce this significantly by raising the traveler to windward, but that creates unwanted heal. Dropping off 5-10 degrees cures the problem. Am I trying to sail too close, or this something one lives with under those conditions. I appreciate any feedback.
close hauled in wing
- Thread starter Ed6925
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Main Backwinded
Ed Sounds like you have either a baggy main or there's some trim issues. However, when you say 20K apparent, by that time you should be reefed with a 135 jib. What you describe is also called a Fisherman's Reef: you leave the main up in higher winds and it backwinds a bit, which saves reefing. I use it a lot on SF Bay when I know I'll either be falling off soon or heading downwind. You're not alone, but I would suggest a reef if you're heeling too much at that wind-speed with the traveler up. If you drop the traveler, still have a tight main with a tight luff, vang on and it's back winding, it's either got too much draft or needs to reef. BTW, most Catalinas are driven by their jibs. Just try it. Sail with just the main, then just the jib and see what happens to your boat speed. {And, please, no questions about whether it's safe or not to just sail on jib alone - been there, done that, asked and answered on this and many other boards - it IS OK}. Stu
Ed Sounds like you have either a baggy main or there's some trim issues. However, when you say 20K apparent, by that time you should be reefed with a 135 jib. What you describe is also called a Fisherman's Reef: you leave the main up in higher winds and it backwinds a bit, which saves reefing. I use it a lot on SF Bay when I know I'll either be falling off soon or heading downwind. You're not alone, but I would suggest a reef if you're heeling too much at that wind-speed with the traveler up. If you drop the traveler, still have a tight main with a tight luff, vang on and it's back winding, it's either got too much draft or needs to reef. BTW, most Catalinas are driven by their jibs. Just try it. Sail with just the main, then just the jib and see what happens to your boat speed. {And, please, no questions about whether it's safe or not to just sail on jib alone - been there, done that, asked and answered on this and many other boards - it IS OK}. Stu
Your sail trim is fine....
... some backwinding at the luff under those conditions is normal and desirable. The drive in the main comes from the rear portion of the sail. Stop and ask yourself why the telltails are placed on the luff of the headsail and the leech of the main.
... some backwinding at the luff under those conditions is normal and desirable. The drive in the main comes from the rear portion of the sail. Stop and ask yourself why the telltails are placed on the luff of the headsail and the leech of the main.
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