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GYC – SAIL TRIM AND TIPS�

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Doug Burtner

Quantum Sails

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WHAT WE’RE REVIEWING TODAY

Intro – Sailmaker for 28 years. Been sailing with Rolex yachtsman candidates, world champions, and multiple national champions. I’ve picked up some tricks but always have more to learn.

For many it’s review – for some it’s new. Please put those hands up high if I use a term you are not familiar with or have a quick question. I usually run long, so I’m going to try and move quick to leave time for Q/A

Part I : Proper Reefing and Depowering Steps
Part II : Sails Trim and applying to Racing or Cruising

Part III: Q / and hopefully A

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RACING, CRUISING, OR JUST MESSING AROUND…

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NO ONE SAIL CAN DO IT ALL.�ADJUST TO MAXIMIZE

Ex. A 150% Furling Genoa that is built to be in 25-30 knots will not make a good light air racing sail.

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REEFING AND NOT REEFING

Mainsail – don’t let a depowered mainsail power up. Reef Properly – Flatten sail while reducing area.

Genoa – use a smaller genoa. Use controls to depower before partially furling / roller reef.
If you need to roller reef to reduce area, make sure your sail is made to do that. Reefing Reinforcement and Foam Luff Pad – More on this shortly.

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�MAINSAIL REEFING – REDUCE AND FLATTEN

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REEFING & THE CLEW

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�MAINSAIL REEFING - CLEW

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REEFING & THE TACK - HORNS

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�MAINSAIL REEFING – TACK LINE

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�MAINSAIL REEFING – TACK – SINGLE LINE

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�MAINSAIL REEFING – TACK – DON’T

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�GENOA REEFING – POOR SHAPE, STRAIN SAIL

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�GENOA ROLLER REEFING – PARTIALLY FURL

Depower everything first. More backstay, outhaul, Cunningham, halyard tension, move genoa car back.

Reef the mainsail first. Save your genoa. Win the race.

If you need to roller reef to reduce area, make sure your sail is made to do that. Reefing Reinforcement and Foam Luff Pad

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�GENOA REEFING

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�GENOA REEF

Move the car forward

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�GENOA HALYARD WRAP ON FURLERS

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�GENOA HALYARD WRAP

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� SPEED WINS – SAIL TRIM�

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�RACING TRIM TIPS:�EVERY KNOT OF WIND AND EVERY DEGREE OF ANGLE THERE IS ROOM FOR SAIL ADJUSTMENT

WIND

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ADJUST EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME

Work the mainsail and headsail gross trim together, especially pre-start, but also at tacks and mark roundings.

Fine Tune: power up and depower. Backstay, Halyard, Sheeting points.

Mark everything for repetition. Make it easier on yourself. Halyards, sheeting locations backstay.

Balance: don’t let the rudder be a break.

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GOALS

Upwind: VMG – Velocity Made Good
Off wind: Maximizing power and maintaining stability
At all times: Controlling heel and helm - Balance

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OPTIMUM VMG UPWIND

The goal of upwind performance is to optimize the mix of boat speed and pointing to maximize VMG.

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SAIL DEPTH = POWER = HEEL

FULL

LUFF

LEECH

FLAT

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MAINSAIL DEPTH

Backstay controls depth in middle/top

Outhaul controls depth in lower third

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THE MAINSAIL

Main Sheet
Traveller
Vang
Halyard Tension
Cunningham
Backstay
Outhaul

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MAINSAIL TWIST UPWIND

MAXIMUM TWIST

MEDIAN TWIST

MINIMUM TWIST

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MAIN CONTROL

Trim the mainsheet to put the upper leech parallel to the boom and the top telltale flying most

of the time.

For maximum power and pointing (VMG) the boom should be on the centerline

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MAINSHEET OFF THE WIND

No more Traveler – Vang controls boom height and mainsail twist

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DE-POWERING THE MAINSAIL

Add halyard tension
Tension the outhaul
Tension the backstay (mast bend)
Drop the traveler
Ease the sheet (twist)

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HEADSAIL: PRIMARY CONTROLS

Genoa/Jib Sheet
Lead Position
Halyard Tension
Backstay / Headstay

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SHEET TENSION

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Leech just off the upper spreader or 3-5” off single spreader – while foot is touching upper shroud at deck level

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TELLTALES AND TRIM / DRIVING

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LEAD POSITION

Use tell-tales to set initial lead position

Move lead aft to flatten bottom and twist off top, this will depower the sail

Move lead forward to increase power in sail

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LEAD POSITION

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LEAD POSITION UPWIND VS. REACHING

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HALYARD TENSION

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HALYARD TENSION : “ SPEED WRINKLES”

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Changes depth of sail and draft location for/aft

Light air / new sail – light halyard tension

Heavy air / old sail – more halyard tension is need.

Location of shape, not looks.

** Mark your halyard **

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POWER CONTROL: HEADSTAY SAG

Adjusting backstay is primary control of headstay sag

Light air - a little sag is often good

Heavy air - too much sag will hurt the boat's ability to go to weather and cause excessive heel

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HEADSTAY SAG = POWER

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DE-POWERING THE HEADSAIL

Add halyard tension
move lead aft to twist
tension headstay (backstay adjuster)
Upwind, feather, don’t fight
Reaching, ease the sheet allowing the sail to luff (backwind) then sheet in just prior to that luffing point.

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GETTING AROUND THE COURSE

With Sail Trim Set, and the boat going fast it is time to get work on crew work:

Starts
Tacks
Tactics
Mark Rounding’s
Knowing the rules or…

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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: PRACTICE

Steer with sails
Set sails – Marks
Different positions
Mark Halyards n Sheets
Reef (try all of them)
Partially furl
Set heavy air sails
Depower full size sails
Set reaching lead

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MORE RESOURCES

The Quantum Team is always available to answer questions, talk sail shape, rig tune, or your latest adventure around the lake.

Visit QuantumSails.com for hundreds of online resources including:

Trim Guides: Mainsails, Headsails, Asymmetricals, Staysails
How to Make Your Partner Love the Kite
Planning Your Cruising Inventory
Rig Tune and Performance

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AT YOUR SERVICE

Doug Burtner�Sail Consultant, Sailmaker

Manager: Quantum Sails Rochester

dburtner@quantumsails.com

LOFT 585-342-5200

MOBILE 585-737-8563

THANK YOU!�

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