Wonder which of two seemingly opposite actions works best to reduce weather helm, flattening the main or easing it to twist the top? Or am I missing the point... does the sail stay flattened while easing the sheet if the halyard and outhaul are both kept tight? Thanks.
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Works for me
I have a 26.5 and the weather helm, especially when its gusty, is to tighten the head sail as tight as possible. Then I twist the top of the main to spill air using the cunningham and try to flatten the main, but using the main sheet, ease out, but not so much that your luffing. This is my standard mode of operation from 15-20 MPH. After that, or if its consistant I just reef and still keep the headsail taunt. I probable put more strain on my boat than most, but I like to have fun. And if it means more excessive heel for a little while, well so be it. The only downside is making sure your beer is secured on the lee side. Cheers. TJ
I have a 26.5 and the weather helm, especially when its gusty, is to tighten the head sail as tight as possible. Then I twist the top of the main to spill air using the cunningham and try to flatten the main, but using the main sheet, ease out, but not so much that your luffing. This is my standard mode of operation from 15-20 MPH. After that, or if its consistant I just reef and still keep the headsail taunt. I probable put more strain on my boat than most, but I like to have fun. And if it means more excessive heel for a little while, well so be it. The only downside is making sure your beer is secured on the lee side. Cheers. TJ
Forgot something
Also I am using a 100% jib. Forgot to post that. If your using a larger headsail, in stronger winds you need to shorten sails.
Also I am using a 100% jib. Forgot to post that. If your using a larger headsail, in stronger winds you need to shorten sails.
both
flatten the main, and then move the jib fairlead back so that the foresail twists, meaning that it will spill air from the top. but realize, as you're doing this, that shortening sail is generally a better option for dealing with excess weather helm. (by the way, having a touch of weather helm is a good thing, since your lwl increases with heal. if you look back at your wake, however, and the word "serpentine" comes to mind, you've got EXCESS weather helm.)
flatten the main, and then move the jib fairlead back so that the foresail twists, meaning that it will spill air from the top. but realize, as you're doing this, that shortening sail is generally a better option for dealing with excess weather helm. (by the way, having a touch of weather helm is a good thing, since your lwl increases with heal. if you look back at your wake, however, and the word "serpentine" comes to mind, you've got EXCESS weather helm.)
Both, plus
Sail shaping for higher winds can be done by adjusting (if you have them) the outhaul, main halyard, cunningham, backstay, traveler, and mainsheet. They all work together, and describing them in words in a long process. The J-World sailing instruction school sells a video on sail trim that covers this and other sail-trim topics excellently.
Sail shaping for higher winds can be done by adjusting (if you have them) the outhaul, main halyard, cunningham, backstay, traveler, and mainsheet. They all work together, and describing them in words in a long process. The J-World sailing instruction school sells a video on sail trim that covers this and other sail-trim topics excellently.
Easy Twist
The easiest way, for my energy, to induce twist in the main it to 1) let the mainsheet out and (2 bring the main traveler to windward. This lenghtens the distance of your main sheet attachment between your boom and traveler car. This allows the boom to rise, your leach and your main twist. Just my thoughts, Mike D. Media, PA Serenity H376 P.S. If we had a cunningham, I might adjust it as well
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The easiest way, for my energy, to induce twist in the main it to 1) let the mainsheet out and (2 bring the main traveler to windward. This lenghtens the distance of your main sheet attachment between your boom and traveler car. This allows the boom to rise, your leach and your main twist. Just my thoughts, Mike D. Media, PA Serenity H376 P.S. If we had a cunningham, I might adjust it as well
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yeah but...
...twisting the main, as Mike describes, is a light-air technique to give the main more power. Used in situations where the top tell-tale isn't flying. Moving the traveler to windward and sheeting out, assuming that the vang is slack, will increase weather helm rather than reduce it. To the contrary, the mainsail is depowered by flattening it, which necessitates tight contols of the foot (via the outhaul) the luff (via the halyard/cunningham) and the leach (via the mainsheet with a little help from the vang, depending on whether or not you have end-boom sheeting.)
...twisting the main, as Mike describes, is a light-air technique to give the main more power. Used in situations where the top tell-tale isn't flying. Moving the traveler to windward and sheeting out, assuming that the vang is slack, will increase weather helm rather than reduce it. To the contrary, the mainsail is depowered by flattening it, which necessitates tight contols of the foot (via the outhaul) the luff (via the halyard/cunningham) and the leach (via the mainsheet with a little help from the vang, depending on whether or not you have end-boom sheeting.)
Flattening
When going to weather, my first step is to lower the main on the traveler, then flatten it by using the outhaul and sheet - if this doesn't do it, then I put in a flattening reef - if this still doesn't work, I spill air off the top by loosening the sheet - if this doesn't work, then I reef. MC
When going to weather, my first step is to lower the main on the traveler, then flatten it by using the outhaul and sheet - if this doesn't do it, then I put in a flattening reef - if this still doesn't work, I spill air off the top by loosening the sheet - if this doesn't work, then I reef. MC
Heavy weather?
I assume your weather helm is appearing in heavy winds, which means all of the above will help including shorten sail. Probably a 155 or 145 down to a 135 then start reefing the main, and somewhere between the 1st & 3rd reef down to a 110 or less. If you are getting a lot of weather helm in med winds then you rake need adjustment. Also cranking on the backstay & vang will tighten the headstay & bow the mast moving the draft forward and reducing the amount of draft (flattening the sails). Sail combinations are a matter of trial & error. If you have roller furling you can stitch in various colored tapes on the foot of the headsail to indicate every 10 or 15 percentages of reduction of headsail. This gives you a good visual refference for where the sail is as you roll it up. Good luck. PJ
I assume your weather helm is appearing in heavy winds, which means all of the above will help including shorten sail. Probably a 155 or 145 down to a 135 then start reefing the main, and somewhere between the 1st & 3rd reef down to a 110 or less. If you are getting a lot of weather helm in med winds then you rake need adjustment. Also cranking on the backstay & vang will tighten the headstay & bow the mast moving the draft forward and reducing the amount of draft (flattening the sails). Sail combinations are a matter of trial & error. If you have roller furling you can stitch in various colored tapes on the foot of the headsail to indicate every 10 or 15 percentages of reduction of headsail. This gives you a good visual refference for where the sail is as you roll it up. Good luck. PJ
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