Hello all--Looking for tips on maximizing my speed while sailing close-hauled in light & variable winds (0-15 mph). Can't seem to point up as well as other boats in my fleet. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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First off, 0-15 kts isn't light winds. 0-5 is light winds. Anything over 10 kts will require a different tactic. In truley light wind, it dosen't pay to point up. The best approach is to foot off for better speed. In the light stuff you need to flatten the main as much as possible. Full outhaul, halyard tension, main sheet and vang. Each of these will be eased as the breeze slowly builds.
Speed while close-hauled
Don't know if this is helpful to M. Burch, but... I saw a polar diagram for some particular sailboat a few months ago. What struck me was that the close-hauled speed only varied by a knot or two across the entire range of wind from 5 to 25 knots. (I don't remember the exact numbers, but you get the idea.) Out on a beam reach and beyond there was a large range of boat speeds (several knots) for the same wind speeds. I imagine (but don't know) that the general tendency of the polars for that boat would be similar for most sailboats. I began to understand why everyone says to sail further off the wind for speed. Whether light or heavy winds you aren't going to go fast pointing as high as you can go. Of course, racing tactics are a whole other dimension of which I know little about at this point... ...RickM...
Don't know if this is helpful to M. Burch, but... I saw a polar diagram for some particular sailboat a few months ago. What struck me was that the close-hauled speed only varied by a knot or two across the entire range of wind from 5 to 25 knots. (I don't remember the exact numbers, but you get the idea.) Out on a beam reach and beyond there was a large range of boat speeds (several knots) for the same wind speeds. I imagine (but don't know) that the general tendency of the polars for that boat would be similar for most sailboats. I began to understand why everyone says to sail further off the wind for speed. Whether light or heavy winds you aren't going to go fast pointing as high as you can go. Of course, racing tactics are a whole other dimension of which I know little about at this point... ...RickM...
I'm confused!
When I Went to school at J World they told us that in light wind you want to do the opposite. A flat main and jib only apply in heavy wind.
When I Went to school at J World they told us that in light wind you want to do the opposite. A flat main and jib only apply in heavy wind.
Flat is beautiful
Don Guillette, author of the Sail Trim Chart and Users Guide here on this site, teaches that in light wind conditions the wind doesn't have enough strength to "get around" a deep draft sail. By flatening it, you can get the airflow around the sail and generate some lift. As the wind increases, you can increase draft for more power. As the wind increases even more and you need to _de_power, you can flatten the main again. As the winds increase still more, you can introduce twist and finally reef to depower the main. BTW, I highly recommend Don's book! ...RickM...
Don Guillette, author of the Sail Trim Chart and Users Guide here on this site, teaches that in light wind conditions the wind doesn't have enough strength to "get around" a deep draft sail. By flatening it, you can get the airflow around the sail and generate some lift. As the wind increases, you can increase draft for more power. As the wind increases even more and you need to _de_power, you can flatten the main again. As the winds increase still more, you can introduce twist and finally reef to depower the main. BTW, I highly recommend Don's book! ...RickM...
Flat vs full sails in light winds
I too learned (and it made sense), that fuller bellied sails catch more wind when there is little wind to catch. Flatter sails spill the wind. Could this be different for a masthead rig vs a fractional rig? I have always sailed smaller, fractional rigs, with small jibs. Thanks all. Seems I will need to do plenty of reading this winter to refresh my perhaps stale knowledge.
I too learned (and it made sense), that fuller bellied sails catch more wind when there is little wind to catch. Flatter sails spill the wind. Could this be different for a masthead rig vs a fractional rig? I have always sailed smaller, fractional rigs, with small jibs. Thanks all. Seems I will need to do plenty of reading this winter to refresh my perhaps stale knowledge.
Flat vs full sails in light winds
Tereza, Fractional or masthead, the theory is the same. Sails don't 'catch' the wind. That is more the job of a spinnaker. Jibs and mains operate on a different principle. These sails are air foils (like an airplane wing). Air moving across the surface of the foil needs to stay attached in order not to create turbulence. Very light air cannot stay attached if the curve of the foil is too great. A flat sail retains the greatest flow attachment generating the greatest lift.
Tereza, Fractional or masthead, the theory is the same. Sails don't 'catch' the wind. That is more the job of a spinnaker. Jibs and mains operate on a different principle. These sails are air foils (like an airplane wing). Air moving across the surface of the foil needs to stay attached in order not to create turbulence. Very light air cannot stay attached if the curve of the foil is too great. A flat sail retains the greatest flow attachment generating the greatest lift.
Confusing topic!
I've been told in general to keep the sails flat when beating windward and letting them get a deeper draft when bearing off including in light air. In heavier weather, before reefing, let the sails twist to spill air at the top AND keep the draft flatter on all points. The 26 lacks: adjustable jib leads, a traveler and cunningham. I am poorly read and lack full understanding in the finer points of sail trim. I've tried, as suggested by someone on another site, to attach the mainsheet to a windward stanchion when overpowered on a beam reach, she sailed much better. I suppose that induced a good amount of needed twist to spill air. alan (that's the alan with a small "a")
I've been told in general to keep the sails flat when beating windward and letting them get a deeper draft when bearing off including in light air. In heavier weather, before reefing, let the sails twist to spill air at the top AND keep the draft flatter on all points. The 26 lacks: adjustable jib leads, a traveler and cunningham. I am poorly read and lack full understanding in the finer points of sail trim. I've tried, as suggested by someone on another site, to attach the mainsheet to a windward stanchion when overpowered on a beam reach, she sailed much better. I suppose that induced a good amount of needed twist to spill air. alan (that's the alan with a small "a")
Careful what you read.
Tereza, et al, I've been reading an old paperback, The Best of Sail Trim, a compilation of articles from Sail Magazine, first published in 1975; my copy was of the sixth printing in 1985. The first article, by Herb Hild, titled "Mainsail on the Wind -- Pointers for pointing," has this to say: "In light air the sail must be full, with the draft in the middle third of the sail and the forward one third of the sail shaping gradually and smoothly from the mast to the point of maximum draft. The after one third of the sail that includes the leech should shape to weather just enough to induce a slight weather helm. "For light air sailing, the outhaul should be slackened and the boom positioned close to the centerline of the boat. Set the mainsheet traveler a bit to windward. This permits the mainsheet to hold the boom amidships without tightening down on the leech. Experiement with the mainsheet and traveler until the boom is on the centerline and the mainsheet is sufficiently trimmed to shape the leech slightly to weather." Perhaps sail theory, and sails, have changed over the past 20-30 years. Perhaps there's a subtlety here that I'm missing and Alan, Don and Herb are not so much in opposition. Perhaps it's all a matter of degrees. In any event, I'm not salty enough to disagree with anyone. Mac
Tereza, et al, I've been reading an old paperback, The Best of Sail Trim, a compilation of articles from Sail Magazine, first published in 1975; my copy was of the sixth printing in 1985. The first article, by Herb Hild, titled "Mainsail on the Wind -- Pointers for pointing," has this to say: "In light air the sail must be full, with the draft in the middle third of the sail and the forward one third of the sail shaping gradually and smoothly from the mast to the point of maximum draft. The after one third of the sail that includes the leech should shape to weather just enough to induce a slight weather helm. "For light air sailing, the outhaul should be slackened and the boom positioned close to the centerline of the boat. Set the mainsheet traveler a bit to windward. This permits the mainsheet to hold the boom amidships without tightening down on the leech. Experiement with the mainsheet and traveler until the boom is on the centerline and the mainsheet is sufficiently trimmed to shape the leech slightly to weather." Perhaps sail theory, and sails, have changed over the past 20-30 years. Perhaps there's a subtlety here that I'm missing and Alan, Don and Herb are not so much in opposition. Perhaps it's all a matter of degrees. In any event, I'm not salty enough to disagree with anyone. Mac
Flat seems to be winning...
Mac and alan (small 'a') Yes, and not just info from 1985 is contrary...here is a quote from Drexel Sailing Team's website" "Basically, in light air you want to maximize the curvature of the sail. As the wind picks up, you want a slightly flatter sail, with the depth of the sail shifted farther forward." For myself, I will be testing on the water, and doing lots of reading this winter. Just wish the wind on the lake would stay steady for long enough for me to truly feel the results of slight adjustments! Hearing all these experienced sailors is of great value, and will check the forum for recommendations on books. I guess Guillette commands lots of respect on these pages.
Mac and alan (small 'a') Yes, and not just info from 1985 is contrary...here is a quote from Drexel Sailing Team's website" "Basically, in light air you want to maximize the curvature of the sail. As the wind picks up, you want a slightly flatter sail, with the depth of the sail shifted farther forward." For myself, I will be testing on the water, and doing lots of reading this winter. Just wish the wind on the lake would stay steady for long enough for me to truly feel the results of slight adjustments! Hearing all these experienced sailors is of great value, and will check the forum for recommendations on books. I guess Guillette commands lots of respect on these pages.
For Clarification
There is a need here to point out that we are talking about subtle changes in very light wind conditions (under 5 knots). The word "light" is to vague for this discussion, but assigning a number will remove that. In "light' winds of 6, 7, 8 knots, the loose outhaul, eased halyard, high sheet tension would be the correct answer. This, however, does not work in "light" winds of 2, 3, 4 kts. As you can see when the breeze increases from "light" (2, 3) to "light" (6, 7), there are many changes that must occur to keep the best performance Hope this clarifies!
There is a need here to point out that we are talking about subtle changes in very light wind conditions (under 5 knots). The word "light" is to vague for this discussion, but assigning a number will remove that. In "light' winds of 6, 7, 8 knots, the loose outhaul, eased halyard, high sheet tension would be the correct answer. This, however, does not work in "light" winds of 2, 3, 4 kts. As you can see when the breeze increases from "light" (2, 3) to "light" (6, 7), there are many changes that must occur to keep the best performance Hope this clarifies!
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