Practice Sessions

[Don Guillette]

I had an interesting call today from a sailor who wants to start his sailing season off on the right foot. I get most of my forum material from these conversations. He wants to develop practice sessions. So far so good. Then he said he wants to practice only one sail trim control at a time. This is not so good. The reason for that is most of "the 4 elements of sail trim" for the main and jib are controlled by a couple of different sail trim controls.

Anyway, since he was on the right track, I asked which sail trim controls he first wanted to practice. He said the outhaul and traveler. I asked what are those sail trim controls adjusting? He said TWIST. Nope and wrong for both controls.

There-in lies the problem. Without a basic understanding of what happens when you hit a golf or tennis ball, or shoot a basket or crank or ease a mainsail or jib sail trim control you're lost from the jump. Additionally, he said he was searching for that one mainsail full power setting that will work for all wind conditions and points of sail. Unfortunately, there isn't one.

To become a proficient pilot you have to go to ground school. Same with a sail trimmer. If you want to become good at sail trim you have to invest some time effort learning the basics. We are not born with sail trim knowledge. You have to learn it and, for the most part, it does not come from your dock neighbor. I can't tell you how many times I was confused by dock neighbors. Some info was good, some was bad and some defied common sense and logic but at the time what did I know.

So where do you get the sail trim info you need? A good book I use is "Sail Like A Champion" by Dennis Conner. I've used it so much the pages are pulling away from the binding!! I have one problem with his book and most of the other sail trim books (other than mine) that I use and that is the info is all over the place. For example, the outhaul might be on pages 25, 62, 95 and 108 and the traveler on 15, 38 and 221. I don't know why authors don't put everything there is to know about the traveler and the outhaul in their own section. Additionally, you have a devil of a time trying to figure out what the darn things are adjusting in the first place.

The bottom line is that it is not easy to get the sail trim info you need but without it sail trim will never make any sense. As a starting point you should learn all about draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack. Once you completely understand those 4 element you're on the way to becomming proficient at sail trim.

 

[Bilbo]

Don,
Is it possible that in this specific situation the person is confused as to the exact meaning of the terminology?
Your points are well stated as I think that for the average landlubber who has never been on a boat, becoming comfortable the terms is one of the biggest hurdles. I know that it can be like learning a foreign language and this is a more difficult issue as we get older and our minds are more umm....mature.
Learning from my own 'Dock Neighbor" became a less-than positive experience as he was rather surly and not prone towards a positive and relaxing experience that I was looking for. As an alternative to feeling like a worm, I then ended up with a few books and videos that provided some cross referencing experiences. This included one on sail design/construction that I think, filled in many factors that the average Intro to saiilng books and videos miss or sometimes gloss over. Relative to the learning process, books are a one way experience in that the writer can't check to see if the reader is in fact actually learning the intended material. So, to lower the "Huh? What was that about?" factor is why I read a few books. It may be that just time and patience gives the mind a chance to digest all the info better. In this instance "Reviewing" is a very good thing as it gives the mind a chance to understand things that weren't correct or that the mind can organize the information for quicker recall.

I think that as far as communication about these things we have to A) put into words what we B) believe is happening or how the sails and boat are reacting to the wind and then C) describe how we understand the controls that we have on any given boat setup. This can get interesting as the learning process for some is less than standardized (As you mention) and as the variables of weather, water and the 4 control means come into play.

I think that the first time I went out, I thought that I was prepared but I really didn't know much. The boat was overpowered and the standing rigging was unsafe. Now that I know a bit more I'd like to think that I'm safer on the water and we are getting around better as well.

Even still, I am browsing this section of the forums because I want to review and learn. In that respect, I'd like to thank you Don and everyone else who contributes here because it is a great source of knowledge and discussion as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Don Guillette]

Bilbo: Yup, I understand the problem because I've been there as have hundreds of other sailors who are trying to figure out what sail trim is all about. At sail trim seminars I conduct I tell the participants that they have to be patient because I am going to be giving them info through a fire house and I'm going to be using terminology they may not understand. The terminology is the terminology and I'm stuck with it.

When I was working on my book THE SAIL TRIM USERS GUIDE, the proof reader didn't like the term CUNNINGHAM. She told me it sounded sexual. That's how bad it can get. As far as getting info from dock neighbors, I was never so confused in my life. I thought I was the only sailing idiot in the world because I didn't understand what they were even talking about. Later, after the sail trim lights went on, l realized they didn't know what they were talking about either. Maybe they did but they couldn't communicate with me - or any one else.

The problem with just about every book on sail trim is that the info is all over the place. The outhaul is on page 25, 63 75 and 114 and the traveler is on a bunch of other pages. When I wrote my book I did not make that mistake. Everything you need to know about the outhaul, traveler, telltales in in their own sections.

Additionally, every concept I talk about has been tested on my boat so I know it works. That was an exhausting process in itself. I can't tell you how much had to be discarded because it didn't work. Here's one example. I was reading an article by Buddy Melges and the next day saw another article by someone else on the same subject. Both articles were directly opposite from each other. I tried both. Buddy was right!!

Years ago when I had little sail trim experience I got caught in a blow on a C25 in Long Beach, CA harbor. I was way over my head and I knew it. LA harbor has a bunch of oil islands that look like condo's. As they got bigger and bigger as I got closer and closer I just prayed to get behind one so I could regroup and get back in one piece. Every sailor I know has one of these stories.

 

[Bilbo]

Don, It sounds to me like the proofreader was not acquainted with sailing. They may be familiar with proper English Grammar and spelling but that is not all that's necessary.
I'd suggest that you had the wrong proofreader if she didn't understand the terminology and therefore the content. I wonder what would have come to mind if your book was dealing with more historical sailing terms ...like the "belaying pin". Did you have someone else who did understand sailing do a proofread...even if it was a dock-partner?

 

[Don Guillette]

Writing a book, getting it published, developing a sail trim chart and doing all the other stuff necessary to actually get the products to market is a lot like learning how to sail for the first time - you make a lot of mistakes along the way because you don't know any better.

Would I ever do it again and I could do it in half the time - NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!! I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

 

[bill326]

You don't really have to be an expert in sail terminology to know that "Cunningham" is a proper name. ("Excuse me, Briggs, but there is just something really sexual about your name.") And, Don, I have your book and love it and wouldn't criticize it for the world, but as long as you brought it up - is she the proofreader who gave us "angel of attack" (top of page 19)?

Although, having just completed a trip on the ICW, I think that there is something to be said for having an avenging spirit with a fiery sword ready to be loosed on a passing sportfisherman...

 

[Bilbo]

Writing a book, getting it published, developing a sail trim chart and doing all the other stuff necessary to actually get the products to market is a lot like learning how to sail for the first time - you make a lot of mistakes along the way because you don't know any better.

Would I ever do it again and I could do it in half the time - NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!! I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

Two Comments Don:
1) I admire you perseverance.
2) Virtually all publications have some errors. This makes them human.
and,
3) Your work is always very top notch & valuable from what I've seen.
;-)

 

[fullsails]

Hi Don,
I am a novice sailer. I purchased your book, and read it several time to understand the 4 basics of sail trim. I thought I got it or understood, so I continued to rest on the book. I was sailing in my H-27 this past weekend. Due to the heavy winds, we went with just 1/2 the main, and no jib. We did quite well down wind, coming back with a reach or close, the wind picked up and the boat came close to being over powered. I sheeted in the main, which seem to help, and then finally had to turn into the wind. I checked the charts and book after we back in the marina. In the book it says to sheet out, and change the angle, I didn't think to move traveler leeward. Would the jib have helped or did we make the right decision with less sail? How does sheeting out depower? I guess I need to go back to chapter 1. I look forward to some practice with your charts with less wind.

 

[Don Guillette]

Fullsails: Thank you for purchasing my products.

Sailing downwind is the easy point of sail. Refer to chapter 1 and angle of attack. Also refer to your QUICK REFERENCE chart and you'll see that the angle of attack is controlled by primarily the traveler and secondarily the mainsheet. Both these mainsail sail trim controls work closely together.

First, let's talk about about your decision to sheet in the mainsheet. What you actually did was step on the accelerator. I assumed the boat started to heel over when you change course to closehauled. By cranking on the mainsheet the boat thought you wanted to power up and it did just that. To counter act the heeling the first thing you should have done is drop the traveler down. I say DOWN because the boat is heeled over and that is the side you want to go to. Beginner folks have to much trouble understanding windward and leeward but they can SEE which direction is down and that is why I describe it that way. You could have also eased the mainsheet but the traveler would have solved your problem.

Had you not had the mainsail reefed the boats reaction would have doubled. In other words, you would have heeled farther over and it would have happened much sooner. Factor in the jib being out and things would have happened even quicker.

Next time you're out sailing practice "0ne of the 4 elements of sail trim" at a time. Since we are on the subject of ANGLE OF ATTACK start with that. Get your boat set up as best you can closehauled. Then crank in on your traveler and see what happens. Don't mess with the jib at this time. The boat should start to heel over. Ease the traveler down a little at a time and see what happens. Next crank it up and see what happens. You'll see you can dial in the exact heel you want, which happens to be about 15 degrees.

Next deal with TWIST. Refer to your QUICK REFERENCE. Ease your boom vang and and watch the top of the mainsail open up. It is spilling power. Next crank on your boom vang and watch the top of the mainsail close. Your powering up the top of the mainsail.

Next, deal with DRAFT DEPTH. Ease your outhaul and induce belly into the mainsail. The boat should power up. Now crank on the outhaul and reduce the belly and the boat will slow down.

Next is DRAFT POSITION, which is hard to see for the first time. I would not mess with it just yet. If you get an understanding of mainsail DRAFT DEPTH, TWIST and ANGLE OF ATTACK under your belt you are well on your way. Proceed as I've indicated a couple of time and then start on the jib using your QUICK REFERENCE.

Any questions? if so just fire away.

 

[Don Guillette]

Fullsails: I wasn't going to bring this story up but your experience made me remember it. I grew up sailing on Narragansett Bay, RI. My parents could not afford a sailboat so I sailed and raced on friends boats. Thinking back, I really don't know how we sailed but we just did. As time went on, I got out of sailing and into power jet boats. The last one was a 22" Eliminator with a 460 Ford and Twin Holly 4 barrel carbs. Over time my wife and I got sick of our children bringing the boat back in pieces. We decide to buy a Macgregor 22 at Lake Havasu, AZ.

My wifes first question was "do you know how to sail this thing?". My answer was "of course I do". The seller asked me if I had any questions and I told him NOPE. I raised the main and rolled out the jib and off we went sailing downwind towards the canal that leads to the London Bridge. As we were getting close to the canal entrance I decide to turn upwind to closehauled and the boat obviously took off and the closer I got to closehauled the worse it got. Next, I fell back to downwind and then decided to try it again as if the same thing wouldn't happen again - which it did. I really didn't know what to do so I just let everything go and dropped the jib and main. For the rest of the week we just motored around and sailed with the main only. I knew from that experience that I did not know ANYTHING about sail trim and realized I needed lessons, which I took when I got home to SO Ca. Unfortuantely, I had no idea what the instructors were talking about and I felt I was the only sailing idiot in the world who didn't understand sail trim. Since that time many years ago I found I was not alone.

As I mentioned in another post, we are not born with sail trim knowledge but it is very easy to learn as long as it is approached in a logical common sense manner. It takes a little study and effort.

 

[fullsails]

Thanks Don,
Just to be clear moving down is the moving the traveler towards wind or leeward. I can't wait to get out and try the practice suggestions!

 

[Don Guillette]

Fullsails: Here's why I use "up and down". The vast majority of sailors I work with are beginners and windward and leeward are hard for them to understand at first. They have to think about it and it takes time and sometimes they move the traveler the wrong way. "Up and down" is easy especially when the boat is heeled over. They never move it the wrong way. Actually, I've used it so much sometimes I forget which is windward or leeward. Just kidding!!

Another thing beginners have a problem with is port and starboard tack. To solve that problem I take a black marker pen from my sail bag and mark a small "S" on the starboard side and a small "P" on the port side of the boom. You can't see it unless you know where to look so the skipper is not embarrassed. After a bit he/she doesn't need it anymore. Anyway, from the helm, if he/she sees an "S" on the boom he/she knows they are on starboard tack.

Hope the suggestions work for you. Please be sure to let us know how you make out. You might come up with a better practice plan.

 

[shemandr]

Port tack is the tack on which everyone yells "Starboard" at you. No wonder beginners are confused.
Up/down is good. If fact I tell crew on my boat, when I'm driving, there's only three commands I want to hear .... up, down, or hold your course. Everything else is noise.