<font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><span style=""></span>Hello Fleet 5<br>I'd asked Steve for his perspective on the Mid winters. Some of his response touched on light air trim which prompted me to ask more questions on that. Steve, of course, was very generous in sharing his knowledge. Here's some exerps from that correspondence:<br><br><br>Steve: <br>In the last race of the first day, the race started in about 3-4 knots of breeze.<span style=""> </span>We loosened the uppers 4 turns, lengthened the <span class="SpellE">headstay</span> to just under 26’, and blocked the mast all the way to the front end of the partner.<span style=""> </span>We sailed away from the fleet for about 7/8 of the first beat.<br><br></span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><span style=""></span>The end of the boom
was about 6” below the centerline, so we had close to no mainsheet tension. <span style=""> </span>Easing the uppers and blocking increased the <span class="SpellE">headstay</span> sag, but also flattened the main. <span style=""> </span>The main is designed for some mast bend.<span style=""> </span>With very little load on the rig and almost zero mainsheet tension, the mast is too straight.<span style=""> </span>The main looked too flat down low from the blocking, so we eased the outhaul about 1-1/2” or 2”.<span style=""> </span>We also moved the jib lead forward to power up the bottom of the jib.<span style=""> </span>The water was somewhat lumpy, but not really nasty.<span style=""> </span>We loosened the lowers and had about ¾” of sag to leeward at the spreaders.<span style=""> </span>With the jib really powered up, you end up with lee helm unless you have enough mast <span class="GramE">rake</span>.<span style="">
</span>When you’re set up for the really light air and the breeze picks up, we found that you have to move quickly to change the blocks, so you can pull the <span class="SpellE">headstay</span> straighter without over flattening the main.<br><br>Marty: <br>You mentioned easing the outhaul. Does anything aid you in determining the right depth, or is it intuitive?<br><br></span></font><div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Steve: <br>The depth choice is intuitive, but based on years of experience in a variety of boats, especially by my teammates, who are more into sail shapes than I am.<br><br></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Marty: <br>Have you ever tried in-hauling the jib clew with the windward sheet? <br><br></span></font></div> <div
class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Steve: <br>We didn’t try in-hauling in </span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Florida</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">, but we did do it in the one race where it didn’t blow hard when we were in </span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">England</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">.<span style=""> </span><span class="GramE">When we tried it, it worked well, good pointing and speed.</span><span style=""> </span>Bill Lynn trims directly from the block on the jib track across the boat to a cleat.<span style="">
</span>In </span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">England</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">, we put a small hook onto the jib sheet.<span style=""> </span>A loop of line with a clam cleat in it went through the hook and an eye on the cabin top. <span style=""> </span>I’m thinking of experimenting this year rigging the jib sheet like Bill Lynn does in the lighter air and rigging it the normal way when there’s more breeze.<span style=""> </span>That will give us two lead angles.<span style=""> </span>It may not be as good as the adjustable system we had in </span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">England</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color:
navy;">, but I’m a fan of simplifying things.<br><br><br>Spring is getting closer. See you soon.<br>MF<br><br><br></span></font></div><br><p> 
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