Here is the document I was talking about earlier. Goes into
general race tactics too. All specific to a C27.
I can't say that I follow all of his advice, but he wins A LOT.
Jib Trim
Light Air 1-4 knots
East jib halyard until scallops
start to appear. Barely to no
backstay tension. Jib car
either outboard or inboard, but the foot of the jib must be outside the
stanchions. Jib should be 18
inches to 3 feet from spreader depending on the wind velocity. Heel the boat to leeward with weight
near the keel (out of the bow and stern). Your weight and heel could be more
effective at steerage that your rudder. Weight forward to come into the
wind, aft to fall away from the wind.
Main sail halyard eased a little,
let the top batten get through the backstay easier and some wrinkles in the
luff. Outhaul off a bit. Sail twisted and off
centerline.
Light Air 4-6 knots
Pull the jib halyard until the
scallops are barely there. Just
a touch of backstay, keep the jib full. Jib leech about 10-18 inches away
from the spreader (depending on the chop or slop). Keep the heel on the boat, weight
for and aft near the position of the keel.
Light Air 6-10 knots
Pull the jib halyard to no
scallops. More backstay on to
pull the draft in the jib forward and point. Skirt the jib. Cars definitely inboard
position. Keep the boat fairly
flat. Jib about 4-10 inches
from the spreader depending on the chop. A lot of chop would mean the slot
should be open and foot to drive the boat through the waves. Flat conditions close the slot a
little and point.
Main halyard up. Sail twisted, but more on
centerline.
Moderate Air 10-14 knots
Halyards tight, no wrinkles. Backstay on, pull the draft forward
and point. 2-8 inches from the
spreader depending on chop.
Keep the boat flat.
Drive it hard, keep the boatspeed and start carrying the speed closer
to the wind when can and foot off as speed starts to decrease. Concentrate on the tell tales and
boat speed. Enjoy the
wind.
Main sail boom on centerline
(technique boom could be above the centerline to 2 inches below depending
on the feel of the boat).
Moderate to Heavy Air 14-16 knots
About time to switch to the number
2. Backstay on. Pull the draft forward in the job or
get pulled sideways. Jib 4-10
inches from the spreader. Keep
the boat flat.
Main sail set the traveler so the
boat will usually stay level and set it (except in the
gusts).
Heavy Air Above 16 knots
If you have not switched to the
number 2, you might be in trouble.
Backstay on. Weight
moves aft some to keep the rudder in the water. Sail the boat flat, play the main
traveler. Hike out and make
sure everyone is off the cabin top and on the rail.
Downwind move weight aft if the
boat starts rolling, keep the rudder in the water (the boat is pretty beamy
and dramatic heeling will make the rudder
ineffective).
Skipper and Crew Coordination
Put the boat on a diet. Well do it. Take out all the junk, extra stuff
that has been there for years, put in only what you will need for the day or
the series.
Read the dam instructions on the way
out. Better yet, the night
before. Check for updates on
the web. Get the wind and
current predictions. Know who
is crewing and their positions.
Do not over pack.
Coordinate with who is bringing what. Some people end up with months worth
of sodas and water, chips, cheese, dip and sandwiches after the race. It doesnt do much good to have 40
pounds of leftovers all the time.
Freeze your water and Gatorade the
night before and use it to cool the beer and sodas. Dont carry too much ice. J-24 sailors allow the crew on only
what they ware so there are no backpacks of clothes, towels, shampoo, foul
weather gear and the like.
On the way to the start
Go over the race instructions with
the crew. Where are we racing,
when are we going to start, what is our sequence in the start, who do we
follow, how much current, when and in which direction? If we all agree to start left and go
left why the hell are we on the right side of the
course?
Practice
Get the sails up. Do a couple of tacks. 2 spinnaker sets and take
downs. Then a couple of
tacks to make sure the lines are clear. Make your mistakes NOW, before the
race. Get the bugs out,
now is the time for the bowline to slip or the pole to go over the jib
sheets. Get the mind ready to
race and not on last nights festivities.
Start
Get to where the line is. Determine the wind direction and
take some wind shots every 20 minutes.
Is there a shift?
Determine what the tide are current are doing. How is this going to affect
you? Which side is
favored? Where do you want to
start? Talk it over with
the crew and let them in on the plan.
Go for clear air at the favored
end. Hopefully you can just get
out in front and cover.
If not, then figure out how you are
going to catch boats and get back in the game.
Weather leg
Go to the side you believe is
favored the wind, current and mark placement all play key roles. Get clear air. Set yourself up for a good
rounding. Do not do too many
tacks. Usually 5-6 tacks on a
leg are sufficient. Sometimes
less if you have clear air and going in the direction you need to
go.
Rounding the weather mark
On NO! we are coming into the
mark. Where is the spinnaker
bag? How about the pole? Do I need to do a gybe or bear away
set? Set yourself up to round
the mark and be set to transition to spinnaker before you get there.
Round the mark a little wide at the
start of the turn so the boat is close abeam after 90 degrees of turn. Start the spinnaker up as you feel
the is best. Pole is set and
pull the sheet and guy as spinnaker goes up. Set the main and jib as if the
spinner will not work. Backstay
off an outhaul out. Lower
the jib after the spinnaker is up and drawing. Throw the spinnaker bag down below
NOW. Get into position, person
holding out the boom will call the wind and tactics from behind.
About 100 yards from the mark start
the jib up one third and look for crossed lines, get the jib clew to the
side desired for the next rounding.
Crew talk through the jib up and spinnaker down. Skipper Decide the mark now and
how you will round it and tell the crew. 50 yards jib up adjust the
halyard tension now, outhaul out and backstay on. About 30 yards out or so drop the
spinnaker and pole.
Round the mark about half to a boat
length abeam so as you turn you will end up right beside the mark and no one
can squeeze inside. Get the
sails drawing, weight where it needs to be and have a light person to clean
up the lines.
COVER YOUR LEAD AND GET CLEAR AIR.
