[C320-list] upwind mainsail trim

Chris Burti cburti at yahoo.com
Wed May 17 09:59:52 PDT 2006 

As an additional thought, I have found that the 320 is
very responsive at 18-20 knots of wind to flattening
the main by cranking on the outhaul and down on the
cunningham. These adjustments are quick, easy and
rarely require further spilling of the main by reefing
or dumping the sheet. And then only if it is gusty and
you are getting puffs in the mid twenties.

I only have a 135 so it does not require furling until
above 22.

This technique lets me sail flat, fast and close on
the wind below 20. The AP set to the wind is pretty
slick in these conditions as well.

With the 135, I have found it better to reef the main
above 20 than furl. I am looking for a good blade for
those 25-35 days and likely will put in a second reef
on the main.
cb

--- Peter Herron <peteherron at adelphia.net> wrote:

> 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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Chris Burti
"Commitment"
Catalina 320, #867, 
Farmville, NC

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