Yachting Monthly - July 2018

CLOSEHAULED LIGHT AIRS MODERATE WIND STRONG WIND

HEADSAIL

Sheet lead

Sheet

The leech will be

Forward

Eased

Closed

Midway/aft

Tight

Half open

Aft

Very tight

Fully open

MAIN

Foot

Kicker/vang

Traveller

Sheet

The leech will be

Loose

Loose/off

To windward

Eased

Closed

Tight

Tensioned/on

Amidships

Tight

Half open

Very tight

Tight/on hard

To leeward

Very tight

Open

REACHING LIGHT AIRS MODERATE WIND STRONG WIND

HEADSAIL

Sheet lead

Sheet

The leech will be

Forward

Eased

Closed

Forward

Eased

Closed

Forward

Eased

Closed

MAIN

Foot

Kicker/vang

Traveller

Sheet

The leech will be

Loose

Tensioned/on

Amidships

Eased

Closed

Loose

Tight/on

50% to leeward

Eased

Closed

Tight

Very tight/on

Fully leeward

Eased

Open

5

BALANCE YOUR SAILS

We also need to balance our sails in

terms of size. If our headsail is too big

and powerful for our main, the bow will head

off to leeward and will suffer from lee helm,

constantly having

to work to keep the

boat on the wind. If

it’s too small, we will

experience undue

weather helm.

7

STRONGER WINDS

For stronger winds, the clew outhaul

should be tightened, the traveller

moved to leeward and the mainsheet

adjusted accordingly. Again, if the leech

flutters, the leech line can be tightened

slightly just to ‘put the sail to sleep’

as Eric Hiscock used to say. Too much

tension and you will stall the sail. Airflow

over the surface is the key to getting

efficient drive out of the canvas.

6

THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SAIL

A little weather helm is necessary to

maintain feel and is desirable. In the

event of a big gust, we would want to know

that the boat will round up to the wind and

stop, as opposed to the lee helm where

a big gust would make the boat accelerate

away and present her stern to the wind and

possibly an unscheduled gybe. Remember,

it’s the mainsail that significantly influences

at what angle you sail.