Racing - Light/Heavy Winds

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Light/Heavy Winds

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Racing
Forum Description: Hanse Chat about various races, gear setup, sail choices, rig tuning, etc....
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9058
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:51
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Topic: Light/Heavy Winds

Posted By: silversailor
Subject: Light/Heavy Winds
Date Posted: 07 June 2015 at 18:24

Our yacht club's invitational regatta was yesterday. We had 4-6K winds in the first race, a triangular course with the first leg to windward, about 1.75 miles. I just could not get Legacy (a 2006 370 with shallow keel; flying a 155 kevlar genoa) moving. Got the pants beat off me by almost everything out there. Then, between the first and second race our prayers were answered and the wind picked up to 11-13K. We flew! First from start to finish and first corrected.

So, I need some light air racing advice. What works? Yes, I softened the backstay and the outhaul. Yes, I probably tried to point too high and that hurt. What else. All advice appreciated.

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Silversailor
South Haven, MI USA
S/V Legacy
2010 Andrews 28

Replies:

Posted By: gertha
Date Posted: 07 June 2015 at 20:34

There is an old saying, something about anyone can sail in strong winds.

All the things that the die hard racers do are magnified in the light wind, squeaky clean polished bottom, striped out light weight.
Balancing the boat, doing all trim with the least movement, getting shape into the sails.

All things I am sure you know.

Maybe just be happy with the first in the second race.

Simon

Posted By: mopoulter
Date Posted: 15 June 2015 at 17:57

I am not sure that taking a lot of tension off the aft tensioner was a good idea. Medium tension is fine

Also ease jib halyard and move car up a bit to give a fuller shape.

do the same for main.

Unless it is really lite (2 knots), then harden the main to flatten it. When the wind is really low it does not have enough power to attach to a round sail. So you need to flatten it. I know it is counter intuitive but I have done it lots and it does work.

Foot off, build some apparent wind and then try to point higher if this does not work do not try to point really high.

Buy a code 0 mast head in 4-6 knots true I can get 5-6 knots speed at AWA of 40-45.

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mp

Hanse 370 #416

"Anxiolytic"

Posted By: r schupak
Date Posted: 28 June 2015 at 16:58

On my 341 we have found it helpful to shift crew weight around to induce approx. 10 degrees of heel. It helps the sails to "fall" into shape & may give an extra 0.1 to 0.3 knots. Here on Long Island Sound if there are a lot of power boats out nothing helps---I just sit & cry as the lighter boats pass (LOL). As noted above, easing the halyards & outhaul & adjusting the leads for the genny can help. We also play the traveler a lot instead of the main sheet for upwind work. In light airs we set the genny (also a 155%) before the start so that in a very close reach the sail is the same distance off the spreader as it is off the lower turn buckles--we've noted this helps shape the draft & make adjustments as needed from that setting. We are sailing heavy & not racing as frequently as we used to but will be doing some more club racing this year. The concepts here worked well on my C&C 3/4 tonner & have helped with the 341 so far. Good luck Robert

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Robert Schupak

Mamaroneck,NY

2004 341

Getting old is inevitable;growing up is optional !!

Posted By: silversailor
Date Posted: 29 June 2015 at 01:22

I appreciate everyone's suggestions, most of which I had already adopted. I'll try all the new one's. But, I think I have to accept the fact that it's just hard to get a 15K lb boat moving in 1-4K, unless I spring for new Code Zero sail.

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Silversailor
South Haven, MI USA
S/V Legacy
2010 Andrews 28

Posted By: mopoulter
Date Posted: 29 June 2015 at 16:28

If you are going to race on the great lakes in the summer I really think a code O is a must.

Although in Huron so far this year we have had a lot gales on race day (Sunday Mornings) and we have had only one race and one long distance one.

So far a really crappy season.

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mp

Hanse 370 #416

"Anxiolytic"