Sailing in Light Airs
by Westaway Sails
Sails need twist in light airs. The halyards on both Main and Genoa should be slack, wrinkles out of the luff are fast. The Genoa car should be well aft in very light airs. The mainsheet traveller should be fully up to windward no vang on and the sheet eased so the boom is on the centre line. The top of the Mainsail may be too full and a crease may come from the inboard end of the batten down the sail. Try a little backstay – this will flatten the top of the sail and help twist off the leech.
Spinnaker trim is difficult. The pole must be constantly adjusted as well as the sheet. Do not over square the pole as the sail will set better out in front of the boat.
The pole must be lowered in the lulls and raised in the puffs. Do not run too deep, as you will loose speed. Reaching to about 150 degrees apparent is a good guide to best VMG. Crew weight must be kept forward. Crew weight in the cockpit will dig the stern in and increase drag. Try weight well forward, to leeward, upwind and as low as possible. Crew down below decks is very fast when waves are around.
Next: Sailing in Medium Breeze
Come and 'like' the Impala class on 
