[C320-list] Pointing to the wind

[tharrison at innovations-plus.com]

Thanks Scott. I will keep you posted as I continue my learn to sail faster and better every day during season three. 

Great information

Ted hull 424 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 4, 2015, at 2:43 PM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>