I can't get less than about 100 degrees on a tack? Is this because of the boats design or are there things one can do to improve the "pointing" ability of the 30Ts? I can keep up with other boats but usually end up 100 yds to leeward after 1 1/2 miles. I tightened the backstay, adjusted the jib leads and fiddled with the main. No luck so far. Anybody got any ideas? frustrated in Brunswick, Z
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Make sure you're leaving some shape in the sails
Do you have a shoal draft? How old are your sails? My 30T points a bit better than yours, sounds like. I find that, in light air, I drift quite a bit to lee. Try raising the main hand tight, leave the backstay in stock position, and don't flatten your sails so much. Trim your jib and your main sheet in just a little less than you are comfortable with, and let your traveller out until you get a bubble on the main.
Do you have a shoal draft? How old are your sails? My 30T points a bit better than yours, sounds like. I find that, in light air, I drift quite a bit to lee. Try raising the main hand tight, leave the backstay in stock position, and don't flatten your sails so much. Trim your jib and your main sheet in just a little less than you are comfortable with, and let your traveller out until you get a bubble on the main.
Need more Weather helm
To go straight when on a reach or close reach, you need a little weather helm. Sounds like you need to trim your sails to where you get more helm. The suggestions Tim gave you will help with that. Note: Two ways to get weather helm. A) more heel B) move COE back...aka...make the main more powerful or the jib less powerful.
To go straight when on a reach or close reach, you need a little weather helm. Sounds like you need to trim your sails to where you get more helm. The suggestions Tim gave you will help with that. Note: Two ways to get weather helm. A) more heel B) move COE back...aka...make the main more powerful or the jib less powerful.
Use compass, not GPS
To determine your tack angle, you have to use the compass. If you sail in tidal waters, and the tide is against you, your ground track will show a tack angle greater than 90 degrees. If you're tacking through 90 degrees on the compass, but your ground track shows 100 degrees, and you're sure that tide current is not the issue, then I like the shoal keel explanation. You're making leeway, and I'm not sure what you can do about that.
To determine your tack angle, you have to use the compass. If you sail in tidal waters, and the tide is against you, your ground track will show a tack angle greater than 90 degrees. If you're tacking through 90 degrees on the compass, but your ground track shows 100 degrees, and you're sure that tide current is not the issue, then I like the shoal keel explanation. You're making leeway, and I'm not sure what you can do about that.
First thing
Your rig needs to be properly tuned. Sounds like you don't have enough mast rake. I suggest you have at least 12" of rake. If you can handle 14" so much the better for pointing. Then set up the rest of the rig with at least 6" of mast prebend. Now go for a test sail and see how much your boat has improved.
Your rig needs to be properly tuned. Sounds like you don't have enough mast rake. I suggest you have at least 12" of rake. If you can handle 14" so much the better for pointing. Then set up the rest of the rig with at least 6" of mast prebend. Now go for a test sail and see how much your boat has improved.
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