Re: catalina27-talk: Wind Speed For Sails

[Boatopia410]

Here is the document I was talking about earlier.  Goes into general race tactics too.  All specific to a C27.   I can't say that I follow all of his advice, but he wins A LOT.   Jib Trim   Light Air 1-4 knots   East jib halyard until scallops start to appear.  Barely to no backstay tension.  Jib car either outboard or inboard, but the foot of the jib must be outside the stanchions.  Jib should be 18 inches to 3 feet from spreader depending on the wind velocity.  Heel the boat to leeward with weight near the keel (out of the bow and stern).  Your weight and heel could be more effective at steerage that your rudder.  Weight forward to come into the wind, aft to fall away from the wind.      Main sail halyard eased a little, let the top batten get through the backstay easier and some wrinkles in the luff.  Outhaul off a bit.  Sail twisted and off centerline.   Light Air 4-6 knots   Pull the jib halyard until the scallops are barely there.  Just a touch of backstay, keep the jib full.  Jib leech about 10-18 inches away from the spreader (depending on the chop or slop).  Keep the heel on the boat, weight for and aft near the position of the keel.   Light Air 6-10 knots   Pull the jib halyard to no scallops.  More backstay on to pull the draft in the jib forward and point.  Skirt the jib.  Cars definitely inboard position.  Keep the boat fairly flat.  Jib about 4-10 inches from the spreader depending on the chop.  A lot of chop would mean the slot should be open and foot to drive the boat through the waves.  Flat conditions – close the slot a little and point.   Main halyard up.  Sail twisted, but more on centerline.   Moderate Air 10-14 knots   Halyards tight, no wrinkles.  Backstay on, pull the draft forward and point.  2-8 inches from the spreader depending on chop.  Keep the boat flat.  Drive it hard, keep the boatspeed and start carrying the speed closer to the wind when can and foot off as speed starts to decrease.  Concentrate on the tell tales and boat speed.  Enjoy the wind.   Main sail – boom on centerline (technique – boom could be above the centerline to 2 inches below depending on the feel of the boat).   Moderate to Heavy Air 14-16 knots   About time to switch to the number 2.  Backstay on.  Pull the draft forward in the job or get pulled sideways.  Jib 4-10 inches from the spreader.  Keep the boat flat.   Main sail – set the traveler so the boat will usually stay level and set it (except in the gusts).   Heavy Air Above 16 knots   If you have not switched to the number 2, you might be in trouble.  Backstay on.  Weight moves aft some to keep the rudder in the water.  Sail the boat flat, play the main traveler.  Hike out and make sure everyone is off the cabin top and on the rail.   Downwind – move weight aft if the boat starts rolling, keep the rudder in the water (the boat is pretty beamy and dramatic heeling will make the rudder ineffective).     Skipper and Crew Coordination   “Put the boat on a diet.”  Well do it.  Take out all the junk, extra stuff that has been there for years, put in only what you will need for the day or the series.   Read the dam instructions on the way out.  Better yet, the night before.  Check for updates on the web.  Get the wind and current predictions.  Know who is crewing and their positions.  Do not over pack.  Coordinate with who is bringing what.  Some people end up with months worth of sodas and water, chips, cheese, dip and sandwiches after the race.  It doesn’t do much good to have 40 pounds of leftovers all the time.   Freeze your water and Gatorade the night before and use it to cool the beer and sodas.  Don’t carry too much ice.  J-24 sailors allow the crew on only what they ware so there are no backpacks of clothes, towels, shampoo, foul weather gear and the like.     On the way to the start    Go over the race instructions with the crew.  Where are we racing, when are we going to start, what is our sequence in the start, who do we follow, how much current, when and in which direction?  If we all agree to start left and go left – why the hell are we on the right side of the course?     Practice   Get the sails up.  Do a couple of tacks.  2 spinnaker sets and take downs.   Then a couple of tacks to make sure the lines are clear.  Make your mistakes NOW, before the race.   Get the bugs out, now is the time for the bowline to slip or the pole to go over the jib sheets.  Get the mind ready to race and not on last night’s festivities.     Start   Get to where the line is.  Determine the wind direction and take some wind shots every 20 minutes.  Is there a shift?  Determine what the tide are current are doing.  How is this going to affect you?  Which side is favored?  Where do you want to start?   Talk it over with the crew and let them in on the plan.   Go for clear air at the favored end.  Hopefully you can just get out in front and cover.   If not, then figure out how you are going to catch boats and get back in the game.      Weather leg   Go to the side you believe is favored – the wind, current and mark placement all play key roles.  Get clear air.  Set yourself up for a good rounding.  Do not do too many tacks.  Usually 5-6 tacks on a leg are sufficient.  Sometimes less if you have clear air and going in the direction you need to go.     Rounding the weather mark   On NO! we are coming into the mark.  Where is the spinnaker bag?  How about the pole?  Do I need to do a gybe or bear away set?  Set yourself up to round the mark and be set to transition to spinnaker before you get there.    Round the mark a little wide at the start of the turn so the boat is close abeam after 90 degrees of turn.  Start the spinnaker up as you feel the is best.  Pole is set and pull the sheet and guy as spinnaker goes up.  Set the main and jib as if the spinner will not work.  Backstay off an outhaul out.   Lower the jib after the spinnaker is up and drawing.  Throw the spinnaker bag down below NOW.  Get into position, person holding out the boom will call the wind and tactics from behind.    About 100 yards from the mark start the jib up one third and look for crossed lines, get the jib clew to the side desired for the next rounding.  Crew – talk through the jib up and spinnaker down.  Skipper – Decide the mark now and how you will round it and tell the crew.  50 yards – jib up – adjust the halyard tension now, outhaul out and backstay on.  About 30 yards out or so drop the spinnaker and pole.   Round the mark about half to a boat length abeam so as you turn you will end up right beside the mark and no one can squeeze inside.  Get the sails drawing, weight where it needs to be and have a light person to clean up the lines.   COVER YOUR LEAD AND GET CLEAR AIR.     Chris D toy box eastport, md