downwind sail trim H26

[R Sater]

Been sailing a couple of years now, and need lots of work. The one thing I really suck at is sailing downwind. So I got a question. With this h26 I have, on a run I let out the main, the booms swings out and the sail very quickly hits swept back spreaders, shrouds and all that is involved with a B&R rig. So should I go ahead and let the boom move out and let the sail ride against the rigging. How do you properly trim one of these boats on a reach or run?

 

[Kevin Flanagan]

Take in on the Main

I'm a first year owner, but my understanding is spreader design is a limitaion of the B&R rig. My experience/training tells me not to let sail rest on the spreaders. Spreaders are not designed to take that kind of load (especially in strong winds. Sails will chaff etc. Ease the main as much as you can without letting it rest on the spreaders. You'll still get 5-6.5 knots of boat speed. Relax...jibe a couple of extra times and enjoy the ride.

 

[Wanderer138]

I agree with Kevin

I've found that trimming the boom in slightly directs more airflow onto the headsail which makes it easier to sail wing-and-wing.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Mark]

Don't sail down wind!

You will find that if you sail off a few degrees and not sail directly down wind that you will sail faster. Jibe carefully every so often.Also a little more pleasant ride!

 

[Ron Mehringer]

Tacking down wind

Beach cats sail faster (higher VMG) tacking downwind, then they do going straight. Now Hobies and Prindles are completely different animals than our B&R rigged Hunters, but maybe alternating tacks on broad reaches is best for our boats too. I know the fastest my H26 has ever gone (well above hull speed) was on a broad reach.Ron Mehringers/v Hydro-Therapy

 

[Jeff Peltier]

Don't worry about

the load on the spreaders. It's up high enough that the load is minimal. There will eventually be some wear and chaffing on the sail and that is why, at least the sails I've seen, have extra sail cloth where the sail hits the spreader. Even on a Broad reach, a properly trimmed sail will rub on the spreader. Keeping proper vang tention will help minimize the chaffing. Judging by my 98, the sail will have been stretched and blowen out before I wear a hole in the sail. It is one of the disadvantages of the B & R rig.Jeff Peltier

 

[Frank Ladd]

I'm with Jeff

I often let the sail rub the spreaders going downwind and in time I may have to ad chafing patches but I've had no visible damage so far. In stronger winds the sail is reefed so that it does not touch the speaders anyway. I don't let the sail out all the way, because sheeted in a little it does direct wind to the head sail on the other side like Peter said. I just sheet it out until it is just touching the spreader.