[C320-list] upwind mainsail trim

[Peter Herron]

Chris,

I used to race and we did use the traveler often.  But that was in the  
last century.  As a lazy day sailor, I almost never touch it, except:
- very close hauled in light air, I pull it to windward a few inches so  
that the boom is about on center.  Most boats are pretty sensitive to  
trim in light air so you can easily experiment with the sail controls  
and find what works.
- if the wind is moderate, say 10 - 12 kts, almost any attempt at sail  
trim works pretty well (for us day sailors).  I usually don't touch the  
traveler.  Close hauled, I trim the main so that the top batten is more  
or less on the centerline.  Off the wind, I ease it down a little,  
unless I forget to.  I fiddle with the jib car position, too, unless I  
forget to do that also.
- if the wind is stronger, say 14 - 15 or so, I ease the traveler to  
keep the boat so that it heels less.  Most experts say you want to keep  
the boat to a 15 degree heel angle.  In practice, that's hard if the  
wind is up
- when to go to Catalina, you will often find that the wind picks up  
when you are about 6 miles from the island.  When it is blowing about  
14-15 kts in mid channel, it can be 18-20 closer to the island.  The  
autopilot won't hold the course, you'll be tired, your crew will be  
complaining about the "lean", and so the thing to do is let the  
traveler down, maybe even all the way
- we had one trip when the wind was steady in the low 20's mid channel  
and in the 25-27 kt range near the island.  The wind angle was about  
120 degrees.  By reefing the main, pulling in a few turns on the jib  
furler, and moving the traveler all the way down, the heel reduced to  
under 20 degrees, the boat speed was still at 7 and we were  
comfortable.  It feels great to come roaring into the island that way!
- returning from the island the wind will be 110 - 120 degrees for much  
of the way.  Easing the traveler gives you a more comfortable (level)  
ride, it's easier on the autopilot, it's at least as fast, and if the  
line is long enough you can reach it while relaxing on the rail next to  
the wheel.

Pete

On May 16, 2006, at 9:50 PM, <crashley at gte.net> wrote:

> My thought is that unless you really need to go in a certain direction
> (i.e., very close to the wind), you will never have to use the  
> traveler at
> any setting but centered. Am I right or is there some other compelling
> reason to use it? Maybe I'm just lazy, and don't race.
>
> CRA
> Rosebud #882
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Barrett" <joe at dolphinmortgage.com>
> To: "'C320-List'" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 1:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] upwind mainsail trim
>
>
>> Hi Mike, assuming the mainsheet was already trimmed in hard from the
>> previous tack the traveler we would leave the traveler slightly down  
>> from
>> centerline as the Jib Trimmer brings in the big 155 Genoa. As the  
>> Genoa
>> comes in we would then head up until in a closehauled position. At  
>> that
>> time
>> the boom would be just slightly off the centerline of the boat.
>> Seems to work OK,
>> Joe Barrett
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
>> [mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Lachance,  
>> Michael
>> B
>> (ISD, IT)
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 3:32 PM
>> To: C320-List
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] upwind mainsail trim
>>
>> Question for you racers out there... Going upwind, how close to the
>> centerline do you place the boom before starting to work on the other
>> mainsail controls for optimum speed and pointing? Do you initially
>> position the boom right on or just off the centerline or considerably
>> eased from that position?
>> Mike
>>
>>
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