This is kind of related to my post before about judging the line between more power and less drag, but it seems different enough to ask separately.
In very light winds, 2-4 kts, I have been fairly successful adding some extra draft in the lower part of the main through easing the outhaul. It is almost impossible to judge by the speedo since the winds tend to be so variable in both velocity and direction at these levels so I want to have some guidance for the trimmer as we experiment. Is it fair to say that if the leech telltales are flying there has been no detachment? Conventional wisdom is to flatten the sails in the very light but my slippery boat just seems to die when I do so and lights up a bit when I make the main more full.
Ultimately I want the trimmers to make their own judgements using the various cues available to them including the speedo, but in this case I am hoping to give them the following: Ease halyard, ease backstay, and manage twist to minimum normal levels until the leech telltales start to fall and there is significant luffing at the luff of the main. The twist should be minimized until the upper leech telltale stalls all the time rather than up about 50% of the time.
Obviously the driver has to chase the wind direction and velocity to maintain speed and heel and all the above cues will vary moment to moment but we are trying to be a more proactive crew without killing the speed doing something strange in the middle of a struggling beat!
In very light winds, 2-4 kts, I have been fairly successful adding some extra draft in the lower part of the main through easing the outhaul. It is almost impossible to judge by the speedo since the winds tend to be so variable in both velocity and direction at these levels so I want to have some guidance for the trimmer as we experiment. Is it fair to say that if the leech telltales are flying there has been no detachment? Conventional wisdom is to flatten the sails in the very light but my slippery boat just seems to die when I do so and lights up a bit when I make the main more full.
Ultimately I want the trimmers to make their own judgements using the various cues available to them including the speedo, but in this case I am hoping to give them the following: Ease halyard, ease backstay, and manage twist to minimum normal levels until the leech telltales start to fall and there is significant luffing at the luff of the main. The twist should be minimized until the upper leech telltale stalls all the time rather than up about 50% of the time.
Obviously the driver has to chase the wind direction and velocity to maintain speed and heel and all the above cues will vary moment to moment but we are trying to be a more proactive crew without killing the speed doing something strange in the middle of a struggling beat!