I have a 30' Catalina and have raced in some local club races and always end up at the back of the pack. Are there some better ways to set the standing rigging to make the boat go a little faster? I have a roller furled head sail, but most of the club members do, I'm getting better reading my telltails, but the others seem to still leave me behind. I need all the help I can get.
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Don Fitzpatrick
backstay
Do you have a backstay tensioner? It would be an asset to tighten the backstay to windward, loosen it downwind. Adjust jib leads for optimum genoa shape. Do you have a boom vang? Other than that... Empty your water tanks? Get a feathering/folding prop. Racing sails... Or, just have fun!
Do you have a backstay tensioner? It would be an asset to tighten the backstay to windward, loosen it downwind. Adjust jib leads for optimum genoa shape. Do you have a boom vang? Other than that... Empty your water tanks? Get a feathering/folding prop. Racing sails... Or, just have fun!
D
Dave
Racing
Tony: You might check the archives and check for past articles on mast tuning...Purchase yourself a Loos tension gauge and follow their directions for proper stay tension. When racing concentrate on the starts...A good agressive start will get you off with the pack (Most beginners are afraid to mix it up at the start)....Keep your crew on the high side and keep your heel to a maximum of 20 degress when beating. When running move the crew weight aft (after you release your backstay tension). Find the leader of the pack and trim the best you can to whatever he/she is doing.(If you are leading just keep doing what you are doing and don't look back except to have one of the crew keep you posted on where and what the other racers are doing). Put a set of streamers on the back of your main (aline with your battens). Adjust you main so that all the streamers are flying equally (Proper twist in the main). You may need to add a Cunningham to help get things proper...Above all...keep cool..Rome wasn't built in a day and sailing is both an art and science...Good luck!
Tony: You might check the archives and check for past articles on mast tuning...Purchase yourself a Loos tension gauge and follow their directions for proper stay tension. When racing concentrate on the starts...A good agressive start will get you off with the pack (Most beginners are afraid to mix it up at the start)....Keep your crew on the high side and keep your heel to a maximum of 20 degress when beating. When running move the crew weight aft (after you release your backstay tension). Find the leader of the pack and trim the best you can to whatever he/she is doing.(If you are leading just keep doing what you are doing and don't look back except to have one of the crew keep you posted on where and what the other racers are doing). Put a set of streamers on the back of your main (aline with your battens). Adjust you main so that all the streamers are flying equally (Proper twist in the main). You may need to add a Cunningham to help get things proper...Above all...keep cool..Rome wasn't built in a day and sailing is both an art and science...Good luck!
D
D. Phillips
focus on the right things
Hi, I've been a keen racer for twenty years, so I thought I might contribute my 2 cents worth. New racers nearly always do badly at first. And they nearly always look for tips on rig tuning. Unfortunately, that is nearly the last thing you need to worry about (assuming that your boat is in decent shape). As one respondent said, a good start is critical. If you start behind the pack, you will be in their "dirty" air and you will feel slow. So, clean air is the biggest go-fast modification you can make! Next, windshifts. Watch your compass and play the shifts. the difference between good and bad racers is more about reading the wind and tacking in phase with the shifts than anything else. Now, regarding tuning. go look at the boats that are like yours. Note where the jib leads are placed and do the same thing. Observe how tightly the fast guys are trimming their jibs and do the same. Here are some things NOT to do. DON'T buy new sails. Trust me, it's not the sails. DON'T get too hung up on race results, it's just a game. DON'T quit, you'll get better as time goes on. I used to finish so far in last place that I didn't know who was second last! I'll be happy to talk more about racing if you are so inclined. Good luck and have fun: racing sailboats is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!!
Hi, I've been a keen racer for twenty years, so I thought I might contribute my 2 cents worth. New racers nearly always do badly at first. And they nearly always look for tips on rig tuning. Unfortunately, that is nearly the last thing you need to worry about (assuming that your boat is in decent shape). As one respondent said, a good start is critical. If you start behind the pack, you will be in their "dirty" air and you will feel slow. So, clean air is the biggest go-fast modification you can make! Next, windshifts. Watch your compass and play the shifts. the difference between good and bad racers is more about reading the wind and tacking in phase with the shifts than anything else. Now, regarding tuning. go look at the boats that are like yours. Note where the jib leads are placed and do the same thing. Observe how tightly the fast guys are trimming their jibs and do the same. Here are some things NOT to do. DON'T buy new sails. Trust me, it's not the sails. DON'T get too hung up on race results, it's just a game. DON'T quit, you'll get better as time goes on. I used to finish so far in last place that I didn't know who was second last! I'll be happy to talk more about racing if you are so inclined. Good luck and have fun: racing sailboats is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!!
T
Tom
C30 Racing
Anthony: let's face it, the C30 is no speedster. It doesn't point very well, its rather beamy, so start high off the starting line so that you can fall down to get speed. Don't over tighten your sails and don't position the traveler too high to mid ship. Pay attention to crew positioning. Install a sail stripe on the main sail, it allows you to see sail shape much better. Make sure you have a folding prop and clean the bottom every week. When tacking, try to get on to the new course asap, don't leave the rudder over too long. It combined with the skeg slow the boat down very fast. If you race, go in the spin class, the boat has a hugh spin sail--use it. Watch your knot meter, all the adjustments mean nothing unless the boat moves faster. Monitor all sail adjustments by the knot meter. If possible, adjust your knot meter to read in hundredths rather than tenths. If faster boats tend to cut you off, threaten to go wing to wing on them, when you put that wall of sail right behind them, they'll think twice next time. Some skippers have installed genoa tracks inside the life lines, some say it helps them point a little higher. Use sliding genoa cars so that you can adjust the sails constantly. When you get ready to tack, ease the genoa sheet a little, then fall off a little. This gives a bigger pocket in the sail and gives a little more power as you tack. I hate to reef, the boat is heavy and can take a lot of wind. Rather than reef, in heavy air keep someone on the traveler and since you're skipper, you'll see round ups sooner. Have them drop the traveler before you begin to round up. Hence you'll stay on course better and you won't lose speed nor direction.Use a Cunningham, a vang, the outhaul, and the backstay adjuster. Learn the local water, read up on water currents, ask local successful racing skippers why they positioned their boat where they did.
Anthony: let's face it, the C30 is no speedster. It doesn't point very well, its rather beamy, so start high off the starting line so that you can fall down to get speed. Don't over tighten your sails and don't position the traveler too high to mid ship. Pay attention to crew positioning. Install a sail stripe on the main sail, it allows you to see sail shape much better. Make sure you have a folding prop and clean the bottom every week. When tacking, try to get on to the new course asap, don't leave the rudder over too long. It combined with the skeg slow the boat down very fast. If you race, go in the spin class, the boat has a hugh spin sail--use it. Watch your knot meter, all the adjustments mean nothing unless the boat moves faster. Monitor all sail adjustments by the knot meter. If possible, adjust your knot meter to read in hundredths rather than tenths. If faster boats tend to cut you off, threaten to go wing to wing on them, when you put that wall of sail right behind them, they'll think twice next time. Some skippers have installed genoa tracks inside the life lines, some say it helps them point a little higher. Use sliding genoa cars so that you can adjust the sails constantly. When you get ready to tack, ease the genoa sheet a little, then fall off a little. This gives a bigger pocket in the sail and gives a little more power as you tack. I hate to reef, the boat is heavy and can take a lot of wind. Rather than reef, in heavy air keep someone on the traveler and since you're skipper, you'll see round ups sooner. Have them drop the traveler before you begin to round up. Hence you'll stay on course better and you won't lose speed nor direction.Use a Cunningham, a vang, the outhaul, and the backstay adjuster. Learn the local water, read up on water currents, ask local successful racing skippers why they positioned their boat where they did.
P
Paul
Tom's reply....
Tom, Thanks for the great response. I too am interested in racing and going from racing a C22 to a C30 offers new challenges. I'll keep your tips in mind. Thanks. Paul #1828
Tom, Thanks for the great response. I too am interested in racing and going from racing a C22 to a C30 offers new challenges. I'll keep your tips in mind. Thanks. Paul #1828
M
Michael McCann
Racing Rig Adjustments
Anthony; Take the response's from D. Phillips, and Tom, and study them hard. They have hit all the points. I would like to add a couple of items. Compare your sails to the other boats. Are the leaders equipped with Mylar, Kevlar? Are your sails stretched beyond belief? If so new sails will make a big difference, even Dacron. Unless you are rich, just upgrade to decent dacron sails, and I want to emphasize "KEEP THE BOTTOM CLEAN"! Now get a 'LOOS' tension gauge, and check the following; sight up the mast using the sail groove as a reference and adjust the uppers, and lowers to get the mast straight. The forward lowers should have the same tension, the afts should be the same, but the forward, and aft lowers do not need to be the same (they can be, but they do not need to be). When you go sailing check to see that the tip of the mast does not bent to leward (it might a little, and don't get carried away here, a little is ok). This is assuming that you have an adjustable backstay, with the backstay loose, the mast should be straight, not bending forward. If you don't have an adjustable back stay, do this until you get one. Tighten the backstay tight enough to keep the forstay from sagging badly when sailing to weather (here again, you are not going to be able to keep it from sagging some (it should make a smooth curve from mast head to tack)). Get a cunningham, backstay adjuster, and boom vang, and all those things that Tom, and D. Said. Have fun. Luck Mike
Anthony; Take the response's from D. Phillips, and Tom, and study them hard. They have hit all the points. I would like to add a couple of items. Compare your sails to the other boats. Are the leaders equipped with Mylar, Kevlar? Are your sails stretched beyond belief? If so new sails will make a big difference, even Dacron. Unless you are rich, just upgrade to decent dacron sails, and I want to emphasize "KEEP THE BOTTOM CLEAN"! Now get a 'LOOS' tension gauge, and check the following; sight up the mast using the sail groove as a reference and adjust the uppers, and lowers to get the mast straight. The forward lowers should have the same tension, the afts should be the same, but the forward, and aft lowers do not need to be the same (they can be, but they do not need to be). When you go sailing check to see that the tip of the mast does not bent to leward (it might a little, and don't get carried away here, a little is ok). This is assuming that you have an adjustable backstay, with the backstay loose, the mast should be straight, not bending forward. If you don't have an adjustable back stay, do this until you get one. Tighten the backstay tight enough to keep the forstay from sagging badly when sailing to weather (here again, you are not going to be able to keep it from sagging some (it should make a smooth curve from mast head to tack)). Get a cunningham, backstay adjuster, and boom vang, and all those things that Tom, and D. Said. Have fun. Luck Mike
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