they tend to have a lee helm, especially with the biggest foresail in the inventory up in the front of the boat. Heeling induces a bit of weather helm to balance that tendency. You will not be able to point very high. The sails may look okay, but if the keel is not going through the water, you will have more leeway than if you cracked off a few degrees. Most boats have less wetted surface, hence drag, if crew weight is also put forward, depressing the skinny bow and getting the aft sections out of the water. Especially if there are waves during drifters that move the top of the mast fore and aft, forget the adage about keeping crew weight together. Instead, spread the weight apart, keeping the forward and lee side weight in mind. At those slow wind speeds, the moving of the rig and sails is more damaging than the boat’s bumping the swells. You can’t go unless the sails push you. Spreading the weight inhibits the boat from bobbing fore and aft. On reaches, go ahead and give your sails some shape by straightening the mast, letting off the Cunningham or halyard, letting the jib halyard off a touch. It is especially important to lift the boom on reaches. The genny takes care of itself, especially if you can lead it out to the edge of the deck. If you are using a spinnaker, drop the pole down to match where the luff wants it to be. It will be lower than any
News & Views for Southern Sailors
normal breeze. Pull it back up in puffs and down in the really light stuff. Otherwise the sail won’t fly. If you are using the ‘chute, douse the foresail in light air. Don’t forget to trim the main. It is still a big sail, even with the spinnaker up. On a spinnaker reach you will have to pull the boom in farther than you think. With a spinnaker that only goes up the mast part way, twist the mainsail out markedly above the head of the ‘chute. You will have to do this with the vang or topping lift trick. Again, don’t forget the topping lift and top batten when you jibe. More important than any of this go-fast stuff is going where the wind is blowing. A 2-knot puff will increase your speed and momentum over a drifting boat enough to give a huge lead. Keep your eyes open for wind coming down the course. If you are drifting upwind and get a header, chances are it would be best NOT to tack. It is likely either a place with no wind at all, or a puff ahead and you are in the outfall of it. Keep going. Unless you need to meet a puff, tack as seldom as possible. Generally, stay out of the middle of a racecourse and out of the middle of a lake. There is usually better breeze at the edges. Now, you get to pick which edge.
SOUTHWINDS September 2006
43