Perfect Downwind Trim 1,2,3

There are few rules that apply to trimming sails, yet when trimming a symmetrical spinnaker there are three that keep this sail fast...

Often the trimmers are experimenting with pole position for aft and up & down. The pit person (who adjusts pole height) is usually responding to the orders of the spinnaker trimmer when to raise or lower the pole.

Many years ago I was told to keep the clews even and always bring the pole aft as far as possible. It might have been the design of spinnakers back then, but today the newer spinnakers react much different.

Asymmetrical spinnakers have changed the way we view all spinnakers. An asymmetrical spinnaker is so efficient because the wind flows from luff to leech and based on the open leech the main contributes much more.

Spinnakers in the past were trimmed more for a pushing wind than a breeze that flows from luff to leech. Now with more information that seems to work we trim spinnakers to look more like asymmetrical sails.

I believe the fastest spinnaker trim includes:

· Spinnaker trimmer (adjust the sheet tension continuous)

· After Guy trimmer (adjust the pole position continuous)

· Pit (adjust the pole height)

· Pit 2 or Floater (adjust the tension of the for-guy when pole moves)

Rules:

There are many rules that will make it easier to sail at maximum efficiency downwind. To start the process, the helmsman must sail the proper True Wind Angle. TWA is available on most boats and is the best tool for a helmsman to use to steer a steady course off the wind. If the boat is sailing up and down a lot, the trimmers will never catch up to the changing course. On a smaller boat without instruments, the windex will indicate a good angle.

1,

Trim the spinnaker loose. It is easy to over trim and this stalled trim will not only make the boat slower, yet change all the rules for the three other trimmers. Make sure the spinnaker has a one or two-panel curl. This is a fold of the spinnaker material in the upper third of the spinnaker. The head radials usually include many panels and a minimum of one panel curl is necessary. If light and flat water: try two. The spinnaker trimmer will either pull the sheet for adjustments or ask for trim from a grinder (crew turning the winch). This communication should be clear and consistent.

Trim…….Stop……Trim……Stop……

2,

The biggest debate on most boats is the pole position up and down. The easiest rule is to always keep the center seam of the spinnaker parallel to the mast. All spinnakers have a seam that travels from the mid foot to the head (I have actually experimented in sewing this seam with a colored thread for a clear view). Trimmers will use the headstay as a reference to the center seam when trimming from the cockpit area.

· If the pole is adjusted to keep the spinnaker center seam parallel to the mast the sail will be set proper for all wind speeds.

· If the pole is too high the center seam will travel from a windward position low to a leeward angle high.

· If too low the center seam will push to windward high and leeward low.

A parallel center seam will always allow the clew to float above the pole and open the leech area of the sail. This trim will allow the mainsail to be more efficient off the wind. The crew in the pit area has the best view on centerline and should make this constant adjustment without instruction from the trimmer.

3,

Adjust the pole for and aft so the cloth off the sail travels perpendicular to the pole at all times:

· If the spinnaker is trimmed properly with a one or two panel curl, the pole should be adjusted so the sail angle to the pole is 90 degrees straight up.

· If the pole is too far aft the sail will angle to the headstay and if too far forward the sail will angle to windward.

The pole needs to move all the time and should get adjusted at a rate of 25% of the sheet adjustment. When the spinnaker curls larger than the required one or two panel curl the sheet is trimmed. If the pole does not move forward the sail will stall low while the mid section is adjusted for the new wind direction.

To keep the entire sail flowing properly adjust the pole ¼ the distance the sheet is tensioned. Do not let the pole forward allot to trim out the curl, yet a small movement will help keep the sail from being over trimmed for that short period. This is a good rule in all wind speeds other than surfing.

When surfing in big waves trim the sheet and pole the same when sailing down the wave. Once traveling up the wave, ease sheet and pole position equal to be in position to pump back again.

1) Trim the sheet for a 1-2 panel curl (spinnaker trimmer)

2) Adjust the pole height to keep center seam parallel to mast(pit)

3) Move pole position for and aft to keep sail perpendicular to pole (after guy trimmer)

Icing on the cake:

The final piece of the puzzle for off-the-wind speed is constant wind speed information. The trimmers will benefit from a heads up on how the wind speed is changing. Usually the grinders for the spinnaker trimmer will face to windward and slightly aft to view the wind pressure. The information should be “breeze in 3, 2, 1, holding for 5, then easing up

Sailing fast requires constant adjustments in sail trim. A few rules will help the team make the proper adjustments with less talk and better results.

Sail Fast,

Wally