Sail Trim Book Or Chart

[Don Guillette]

Eric Graig asked me an interesting question. He asked "If I were going to buy only one of your products, which would you recommend - the book or the laminated sail trim chart?Well, it depends on your level of sail trim experience. The SAIL TRIM CHART tells you WHAT to do and THE SAIL TRIM USERS GUIDE tells you WHY you are making a particular sail trim adjustemnt for your main and jib. So, if you have a complete understanding of draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack and have a complete understanding of the 8 to 10 mainsail sail trim controls and the 5 or so jib controls and know exactly what happens when you push or pull either of them than your in pretty good shape. You also have to know what part each sail trim control plays in the adjustment of draft depth depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack for the main and jib plus you need a good understanding of what your telltales are telling you. Frankly, if anyone is at that level, they really don't need my chart and book!!!!The Chart is actually an outline of the book. The sequence of events was that I made the chart for myself because I thought I was the only sail trim idiot on the face of the earth. I had no idea what to do. Soon I found there was a market for my Chart. On day, about 4 years ago, I causually answered a sail trim question over on another network and happened to mention I had a sail trim chart. Inside of 3 days, I received 75 request for the chart so I knew then that I had something. Unfortunately, I had the chart but only I could read it!! I quickly organized it and the rest is history - I've sold over 10,000 of them to sailors worldwide. The book came after sailors said we know WHAT to do but we don't know WHY, so I wrote the book and have sold about 2000 of them. Incidently, the WHY is EVERYTHING. There has to be a reason for every sail trim adjustment. If I were a beginner to high intermediate, I'd buy both. It's chaeper than a case of Sam Adams and we all know what happens to the Sam Adams. For the same amount of $$$, you get to keep the chart and book!!! Maybe some of you mates who have bought my products can help Eric out with his buying decision?

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Give a man a fish...

Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.You really should understand what sail shape you want for a given condition, and how you can get it with the controls at your disposal. Then you can look at the sails and reach for the control(s) to effect the change you want. If you look at or memorize the chart, what are you going to do? Look at _all_ the controls and decide if any need tweaking at the moment?May the book be with you.(Or buy both like I did ;-)...RickM...

 

[Trevor - SailboatOwners.c]

Both worthwhile

Don -Good summary. I keep the sail trim book at home, having read it cover to cover more than once. Even after gaining an understanding of the concepts, it's worthwhile to refresh every now and again - keeps you from getting too lazy and to pay attention to the little things. I keep the cards on the boat; franky I don't refer to them much anymore, but they are great for guests when I try to explain what's hapenning.Just my 2 cents - in any case, there's nothing out that as simple and concise as Don's guides, in my opinion.Have fun!Trevor

 

[Lee Bar 30trailer]

Ok I get it ,you should sell both as one but do 2

I for one never liked continued in part 2 deals,but sounds like together there a great peace of info.

 

[Kes]

Sail trim - Book or Chart

I guess I'll be contrary on this ... go to the library and read a book about the principles of sailing ... study the charts, then ... go sailing and PLAY with the sail settings!! Don't worry about the exact sail setting ... unless you're trying to engineer a new sail or win a race, the exact sail setting is not THAT important As long as the sail doesn't flap around in the wind - and looks taut - it is set just fine.Just go and enjoy your sailing!! With time, you WILL get the "feel" for a properly set sail!PS- Of course, if you WANT to buy the material ... by all means do so!

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Contrary to Kes

Kes -I have to disagree with your statements, not to help sell books or to try to convert you but to give any novices reading this more information to base their decisions regarding sailing training and knowledge. Your words are very appealing in terms of time and money so I felt I add to add more info.There are many reasons for a good understanding of sail trim that have to do with comfort and safety and nothing to do with "going faster".You could run out of gas or have an engine failure or foul the prop, and need to sail away from a lee shore or just plan get from A to B before it gets too dark or worse weather rolls in.Non-sailing friends and family often are very uncomfortable when the boat is heeling excessively. One can easily overtrim the sails to not flap and look taut on a reach but the sails will be stalled and the boat will heel.Again for comfort and safety, it's a real good idea to know how to depower the sails as the winds strengthen or you get hit by gusts.Being safe and comfortable sailing in stronger winds then you might otherwise be able to handle translates to more time sailing instead of motoring back under bare poles or not going out in the first place. There are of course sailing skills that are not exactly sail trim issues, such as heaving-to and reefing under sail that also contribute to safety and comfort.As a new sailor myself, I was surprised that I spend more time trimming my sails to depower them than to go faster: exactly the opposite to why I thought learning more about sail trim was useful....RickM...