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way as runner/check stay tension on
larger boats in helping to control sail
shape. On smaller boats, the shrouds
need to be tensioned in concert with
one another to ensure maximum
performance from both main and
headsail, and that can only be done
prior to the race. On larger boats you
will want to pay attention to how your
backstay, runners and check stays are
offset to your headstay, inner forestay
and baby stay if you have those mast
control options. Ultimately, the shape
of your mast will influence the shape
of your mainsail, and for light air
sailing you will want a fuller, more
powerful main to take advantage of
every wisp of wind.
WORK WITH TIDES & CURRENTS
Current and tide also play an
increasingly important role in win-
ning races as the wind drops off. If
the current is favorable and is ex-
pected to remain that way for some
time, obviously, the smart racers will
try to spend the most time in the
strongest current. If the
current or tide is foul,
it may become critical
to find shallow water
towards the mark with
less current and keep
open the possibility of
anchoring rather than
drifting backwards if the
wind completely shuts
down. Passagemakers
will also find that cur-
rent plays an increas-
ingly significant aspect
in their daily runs as the
wind goes light. With
boat speed through the
water reduced by light
winds, the amount of
speed over the ground
gained in favorable Gulf
Stream currents, as an
example, will provide
a larger component to
the overall speed over
the ground. The wind speed may
only grant you a knot or two of speed
through the water, but with a favor-
able current of three or four knots,
your overall speed over the bottom
will keep you moving towards your
destination at five or six knots.THE PROPER ANGLE OF HEEL
While working to weather, it’s im-
portant to keep sails “quiet” and con-
sistently working at their optimum.
The boat may need to be heeled over
to a 10 or 15 degree angle of heel by
moving crew weight to the leeward
side and centering them in the middle
of the boat in order to help hold sails
to the leeward side. Each boat has its
own preferred attitude and weight
distribution, but generally, keeping
the weight centered helps to reduce
pitching in the left over swell or waves
and may get the stern out of the water,
reducing wetted surface. Read says,
“J-24’s are a little different from most
One Designs. They tend to drag their
sterns, so in light air it’s importantto keep the weight forward and low.
Sometimes we’ll have most of the
guys down below on the leeward side.
When we’re in flat water, one or two of
the crew may even be forward of the
bulkhead.” He goes on to mention,
“Over heeling is not fast for the keel
on a J-24. We try to only heel the boat
enough to keep the sails out. Even if
there’s a little lee helm, it’s better to
fight a little lee helm than to induce
drag in the keel.” Bigger boats oper-
ate in much the same way, although
each will have its own characteristics.
Keeping the sails “flopped out” to lee-
ward with wind quietly and smoothly
flowing across them will help to get
the most out of each puff.LOOKING FOR BREEZE
In order to power up the sails, the
Apparent Wind Angle may need to be
increased to as much as 50 degrees as
the wind drops to drifting conditions,
but in order to achieve maximum per-
formance on the race course, on larger
boats keep a record of wind