Speed Tips

Some tips around upwind and downwind speed from one of our sailors:

Upwind speed

1. Sheet the jib to the inboard tank with top telltale just lifting before others and leach ribbon streaming
2. Sheet the main as close to centreline as possible with the leach ribbon streaming at least 50 percent of the time. No forward chocks. No Cunningham at any time. Set leach tension with mainsheet and just trim vang up to this load and no more. Adjust the outhaul to the conditions. Make sure the mainsheet system is effective with blocks adjusted close to each other to allow the boom to be centred with minimum leach tension. I prefer end boom with adjustable bridle allowing the boom to be sheeted to windward.
3. Keep your weight well forward with skipper straddling the thwart.
4. Sail the boat flat allowing the boat to accelerate in gusts.
5. Sail high but not to the extent that the boat gets bogged down and is sluggish.
6. If the boat slows too much ease both sheets until the leach ribbons are both streaming and build speed. Firm sheets again later and test height again. If the boat slows too much, spring sheets again.
7. Leave the centreboard fully down all the time including downwind. It will help you sail deeper on the run if left down.

Downwind speed

1. Tie a stopper 100 mm from spinnaker head to keep the spinnaker set away from the rig.
2. Trim to fly the spinnaker as far as possible from the rig and jib. If in doubt let it out so that it is pulling you forward rather than sideways.
3. Constantly trim the spinnaker sheet and brace to keep the spinnaker in front of the boat, but not to the extent that the kite compresses against the jib. Hold the brace in one hand and the sheet in the other constantly checking trim and giving feedback to the skipper.
4. Sit the crew on the windward deck so they have the best view of the spinnaker. The skipper can sit to leeward or on the thwart as required to keep the boat flat. The skipper should stay at the thwart unless it is either planing or surfing conditions.
5. Ease the vang at the top mark to keep the leach ribbon streaming constantly but not so much that the boom is flying skyward, losing power and making the boat susceptible to tipping over to windward.
6. Sail deep in the gusts and high in the lulls keeping you in the pressure longer in the gust and in the lulls less of the time.

General

Ask questions of the people at the front. Don't be afraid to ask how they set their rake, why do they do this or that. It is all part of the fun of racing trying different things and finding what works best for you. Although serious about competition, the Pacer fleet is extremely convivial and sailors are happy to help one another out with some speed tips!