Halyard Tension

[Sam Salter]

I know how to trim sails and I'm a bit obsessive about it - well everyone needs a hobby!
However, I've just bought my first Kevlar / mylar 135% genoa. Main coming next season!
Do I still control draft position with halyard and Cunningham tension or are these sails so stable that the draft is set and that's it?
Are there any trim techniques I should be using with these high tech sails that are not used with regular Dacron sails.
Any insight will be welcome.
sam

 

[Sandy Stone]

Did you ask the sailmaker? I think he would be the ultimate authority. That being said, I believe that within the wind range the sail is designed for, you should not have to adjust halyard tension much at all, except possibly to compensate for backstay adjustments.

 

[shemandr]

So called Mylar/Kevlar sails have a built in shape that isn't as adjustable as a dacron sail. They are still subject to sail trim controls but generally they have their shape until they don't. That is why if you are going to buy one you need a real sailmaker to get the shape right. I have sailed on many boats on which the so called hi-tech sail is a dog. You can't improve it with sail controls. It is wrong and it stays wrong. In the end sail design is an art - with science applied.