Otto: Thank you for your questions. As a preface to my answers, I tried to keep the Sail Trim Chart as simple as possible and stay away from sailing terms, as much as possible because space was at a premium and I didn't have room for a glossary. A glossary would take up valuable sail trim space. On the position of mainsail telltails - They should be placed along the leech of the sail at the battens. In addition, I have a set (one on each side just like on the jib) installed in the middle of the sail and just above center. You read them just the way you read the jib telltails. On the jib, 3 sets are adequate. Split the jib in 3rds and install them at that point. Telltails are the most important sail trim indicator and sadly a lot of sailors don't have them. How they read their sails is beyond me. I devote 7 pages in my book "The Sail Trim Users Guide" to the art of reading your telltails. Traveler up and down - I wanted to stay away from the terms windward and leeward as those terms confuse the beginner at first but you are correct - down would be sliding the car to leeward and up would be pulling the car toward windward. Plain un laminated sheet - That is a quick reference sheet, which I include free with each sail trim chart. There are only 4 things you are adjusting on your main and jib and they are draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack. I call these items "The Four Elements Of Sail Trim". That is how uncomplicated sail trim is. If you understand those 4 items you are miles ahead of 75% of the sailors worldwide. Since those 4 items are all there is to sail trim, you'll notice I displayed them for you main and jib and outlined the sail trim controls that are used to adjust each of the 4 elements. I also outline what happens to each element on your main and jib when you trim or each sail trim control for the main and jib. One of the reasons I include the quick reference is that the chart lists draft depth, twist etc but if a mate doesn't know what they are he doesn't know how to adjust them either. A companion to my sail trim chart is my book, The Sail Trim Users Guide. The Chart tells you WHAT to do and the book tells you WHY you are making a particular sail trim adjustment. I hope I have answered your questions. If not , just fire away.
