[C320-list] Pointing to the wind

[Scott Thompson]

Ted, I have a 145% Genoa (UK Tape Drive, still in good shape, which 
matters a lot for this). I routinely sail in more wind than that with no 
reef and full genoa and point much higher with good speed. I think my 
best VMG is at about 33-35 degrees apparent wind angle with 20 knots 
apparent wind speed. You are far from that, and I suggest that either 
your sails are blown out or you need to work harder on sail trim.  You 
should not have to reef with winds under 15 knots, and the fact that you 
are doing so suggests a problem with sail condition or trim.

Assuming a sail in good shape, I suspect your leads are too far forward 
and that your genoa is thus not flat enough when fully trimmed. It 
should not be off the upper spreaders but close to the shrouds near the 
deck. With my slightly smaller sail I routinely place the leads with pin 
in the fifth hole from the stern. This lets me flatten the bottom part 
of the genoa without  choking off the top. Having a sail that is too 
full or choking off the slot by putting the leads too far forward will 
cause you to have a lot of weather helm and a temptation to reef. If you 
feel overpowered, better to ease the mainsheet and vang a little to 
spill some air from the top of the main. Maybe pull the traveller a bit 
further to weather to keep the bottom part of the main drawing when you 
ease the mainsheet. But keep that genoa as flat as you can, unless you 
decide to crack off for waves, or the wind goes very light.  Do not rely 
too much on where other people pin the genoa leads since the best 
placement depends a lot on the exact cut and condition of the sail.

We do not race our boat but I am very sensitive to sail trim issues 
since I do race a lot on OPB and have a lot of experience in other boats 
of all sizes. Based on that experience I would suggest that you stop 
looking at the wind instruments and focus on how you are doing relative 
to other boats. Experiment a lot too! You may also need to work on 
steering. I've found that for best pointing the windward telltales 
should be dancing upward every now and then but never the leeward ones. 
If you are looking at the wind indicator you cannot be steering 
efficiently upwind.

I can't emphasize how important it is to have a good genoa for upwind 
performance. The biggest single improvement in my boat's sailing 
performance came when I ditched the OEM 155% and bought a good 145% 
headsail. I went with the 145 rather than the 155 since for cruising I'd 
rather be able to sail comfortably when it is blowing 25 than when it is 
blowing 5.

Regarding port/starboard symmetry, I believe the boat is pretty 
symmetric in terms of upwind performance. However my wind instrument 
says otherwise, which is a sign that I need to recalibrate the 
instrument. I trust my own sense of the boat's performance much more 
than that instrument, and I know I am doing well when I pass bigger 
boats upwind in 20 knots apparent wind, which is pretty common when the 
wind is up. For a cruising design, the 320 is a very good performer, 
even with the wing keel.


On 6/4/2015 1:04 PM, Dean Vermeire wrote:
> Ted,
>
> In my humble opinion, if I wanted better upwind performance and wanted 
> to point higher, I would:
>
>  * Shake out the reef of the main
>  * Bring the boom more towards the centerline by taking the traveler
>    more to wind and/or trimming the mainsheet, depending on the wind
>  * Use a smaller headsail or roll in the genny, as needed
>  * Adjustments to the vang, cunningham, backstay, outhaul, halyards, 
> etc...
>
> I routinely point higher than 40 degrees, but there is certainly a law 
> of diminishing returns.
>
>
> On 6/4/2015 11:18 AM, tharrison at innovations-plus.com wrote:
>> 155 percent, cars 6 pins from stern, tight and ticklers flying 
>> parallel to each other
>>
>> Main was reefed. About  30 degrees from the center line.
>>
>> Traveller set above center line to windward.
>>
>> Not rough
>>
>> Ted
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jun 4, 2015, at 9:31 AM, Dean Vermeire <dean at vermeire.us> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Ted,
>>>
>>> What headsail were you flying?
>>> How were your headsail and mainsail trimmed?  How high did you have 
>>> your traveler set?
>>> Were the seas rough?
>>>
>>> Dean Vermeire
>>> Moonstruck II (#847)
>>>
>>>> On 6/4/2015 7:42 AM, tharrison at innovations-plus.com wrote:
>>>> Just wondering how close can you point to the wind?
>>>>
>>>> Last night we had 10 to 14 knots of wind. I found that as soon as I 
>>>> pointed below 40 degrees speed deceased.
>>>>
>>>> Are you able  to point the same on a port and starboard tack?
>>>>
>>>> Ted hull 424
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>