I have only been sailing for about a year and feel I am doing very well so far. However, I still don't feel that I am getting the sails trimmed as well as I could. I have read lots of articles on sail trim and the use of the tell tales on the sail. A lot of the info out there seems to conflict as to how to read the ribbons on the sails. Can someone please give me a reasonably simple explanation as to how to read the ribbons and make the necessary adjustments? Am I over simplifiying this issue?
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Bruce Grant
How about
Assuming a close reach, on the Jib/Geneoa, trim the sail until both sets (upper and lower)tell tales are streaming aft (inside tell tale can be jumping a bit). As you sail, watch the tell tales, when the inside tell tale stalls (stops streaming aft), fall off the wind, when the outside tell tale stalls, head up. This will allow you to sail a little closer into the wind and react to changes in the wind faster than looking at the windex. Hope that helps. Bruce. Neon Moon.
Assuming a close reach, on the Jib/Geneoa, trim the sail until both sets (upper and lower)tell tales are streaming aft (inside tell tale can be jumping a bit). As you sail, watch the tell tales, when the inside tell tale stalls (stops streaming aft), fall off the wind, when the outside tell tale stalls, head up. This will allow you to sail a little closer into the wind and react to changes in the wind faster than looking at the windex. Hope that helps. Bruce. Neon Moon.
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Guest
on the main
the top leach tell should stall out (to leeward of the leach) and the others should stream aft horozontally. dont forget the vang and cunningham, adjust the vang so that the top batten is parelell(sp) to the boom. i like a hint of a wrinkle in the luff and tighten the cunningham to just show 2-3 SLIGHT wrinkles. when im overpowered i pull the wrinkles out and adjust the outhaul,. i think Whitten has a great book on wind and sail trim .see if you can find it. sorry i dont know the actual title o borrowed it from a friend and had to give it back sadly i havent bought my own copy.
the top leach tell should stall out (to leeward of the leach) and the others should stream aft horozontally. dont forget the vang and cunningham, adjust the vang so that the top batten is parelell(sp) to the boom. i like a hint of a wrinkle in the luff and tighten the cunningham to just show 2-3 SLIGHT wrinkles. when im overpowered i pull the wrinkles out and adjust the outhaul,. i think Whitten has a great book on wind and sail trim .see if you can find it. sorry i dont know the actual title o borrowed it from a friend and had to give it back sadly i havent bought my own copy.
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Warren
Simple Sailing!
Unless your a "racer" (If you want to go fast on the water...Buy a motorboat!) Forget all the fancy advice...Trim the sails (main first) until they just stop flapping. There is a booklet by George O'Day titled "Have Fun Learning To Sail" It has about 25-30 pages...See if you can locate a copy. Good Luck! Warren
Unless your a "racer" (If you want to go fast on the water...Buy a motorboat!) Forget all the fancy advice...Trim the sails (main first) until they just stop flapping. There is a booklet by George O'Day titled "Have Fun Learning To Sail" It has about 25-30 pages...See if you can locate a copy. Good Luck! Warren
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Brad Stone
Sail Trim Bibles
There are two great books I've read. The one refered to earlier is "The Art and Science of Sails", by Tom Whidden ... Deep aerodynamic theory here. The other is "Performance Race Trim," by Bill Gladstone. This one's a bit simpler and easier to apply, and has tons of useful stuff. Each time I read it I learn something else. Great book! You might be able to get them on this site in books-section of the chandlery.
There are two great books I've read. The one refered to earlier is "The Art and Science of Sails", by Tom Whidden ... Deep aerodynamic theory here. The other is "Performance Race Trim," by Bill Gladstone. This one's a bit simpler and easier to apply, and has tons of useful stuff. Each time I read it I learn something else. Great book! You might be able to get them on this site in books-section of the chandlery.
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Bryan C.
use your knotmeter
And experiment to see how trim affects your boat. On my 35, it is fastest when the jib is trimmed to the tales like Bruce described, main likes to be trimmed out farther than you would think, just on the edge of luffing.
And experiment to see how trim affects your boat. On my 35, it is fastest when the jib is trimmed to the tales like Bruce described, main likes to be trimmed out farther than you would think, just on the edge of luffing.
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Ken Palmer
Excellent description of main sail trim on web.
Point your browser to the "related link" at the bottom. It is presented by North Sails UK, and has some really neat graphics. You can also visit my Lake Ontario Sailing website listed below my name just for the heck of it. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty http://www.LakeOntarioSailing.com/
Point your browser to the "related link" at the bottom. It is presented by North Sails UK, and has some really neat graphics. You can also visit my Lake Ontario Sailing website listed below my name just for the heck of it. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty http://www.LakeOntarioSailing.com/
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Robert Bonney
Good Advice
Thanks for all of the advice. Ken, I did check out both websites and they are terrific. I will definitely try some of the new techniques out this weekend.
Thanks for all of the advice. Ken, I did check out both websites and they are terrific. I will definitely try some of the new techniques out this weekend.
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