Light Wind

It depends how very light the wind is, and also how your sail is cut. If the wind is really really light it won't manage to get round a full sail properly so you try and flatten it off a bit, but that's sub flag flapping coditions really.

Just a little note for beginners. The pressure
developed by the sails is approximately to the square of
the wind speed. So the difference between light and
just a little more can be enormous. For instance 3knots
is a drift but 6knots is 4 times as much power and so
the sail setting would ideally be completely different.
The trouble is when its light its also very variable so
you are not going to be able to adjust for perfection
and even if you could you'd gain a lot more by looking
out of the boat and picking a good shift.

with the downhaul/cunningam they say to pull on it gradually.

id say in no wind at all full on the cunninam but if theres a puff just pull it so there are a few small creases in it, if there is a small gust but not enough for the crew to sit on the windward gunwhale id say a few more creases.

 

in medium winds (when the crew and helm is sitting but not hicking much) id have it lose.

 

in heavy winds back on again

thanks all will try the suggestions

Originally posted by KennyR Depends on the boat.

Exactly....let us know what class you are sailing and better targetted advice will be forthcoming.

I have sailed a variety of classes and they all vary. The Laser for isntance needs a little bit when it is light, the Blaze you just didn't use the kicker until you were stupidly over powered. The 8.1 you need a fair bit at all times to match the mast to the luff curve.

The other (perhaps more important control) in the light is the Outhaul. A lot of people think the lighter it is the less you should use. Not so! In light winds you need to make the path for the flow as easy as possible to prevent it from becoming detached from the sail (not fast or efficient).

In medium airs when are are searching for power you want to loosen the outhaul off so the wind is deflected the maximum amount (this helps generate power) whilst keep the flow attached.

In heavy airs you want to reduce the power so it is back to tightening up the outhaul to help depower the sail (in conjunction with judicious ammounts of cunninham to open the top or 4th corner which is somewhere near the top batten on most sails).

It is all about phyiscs, take a little time to understand what is happening to the air as it flows over the sail (you do not need to be an aerodynamicist) and the whole idea of what you need to do becomes a lot clearer and easier to understand. Putting that all in to practice however it an entirely different matter and takes time on the water and help from more experienced people/instructors.

Just my 2p as always, i am sure someone will explode my outhaul reasonings somewhere along the lines!