TOPIC:

This is my first season with a fully adjustable rig and am on a bit learning curve. At last night`s club racing we had a windward leeward course in almost drift conditions. For the upwind leg we used prebend via the strut, modest rake and slackish rig tension our boat speed was very good and were first to the windward mark in a mixed fleet of 25 boats. On rounding the mark going onto a run, what, if any adjustments should be made to the rig, i.e. do the shrouds require to be let off a bit, does this affect the pre bend. This is our first experiment in very light conditions and we decided to keep our upwind settings, however, on the downwind leg we seemed to be losing out...any thoughts on settings for good downwind performance in light conditions?

On a run you need to let off both shroads, in just about all conditions. You need the outhaul on and if the top of your leech is not open you will need to let the prebend off, the mast should be pulled forward so that the mast sits as far forward in the mast gate as possible, some people pull the mast forward with jib tension and some use an adjustable forstay and then let the jib tension off, the boat should be heeled to windward. With the plate fully up or just about.

Do not sail by the lee

Hope this helps


Phil
A8152 Albaholic

Do put a bolt through the bottom of the mast & into the step if you sail in waves (as I have found out the hard way-a bad mistake ignoring Michael Mac's advice!)
With everything let off there is obviously no rig tension to hold the foot of the mast in the step

The sailors of the now ex-Olympic boat the Star let their masts rake forward to an alarming degree on the run - we are bounded by the mast slot

Thanks Phil and Jeremy for the advice which is much appreciated,
We mainly sail in the sea so have fitted a bolt on the advice of Antie Alb!