Don’t simply sit on the rail! Heel angle trim is vital in keelboats, as Chris ‘Twiggy’ Grube explains to Andy Rice
Keelboat sailors obsess about sustaining the optimum angle of heel. In response to Chris ‘Twiggy’ Grube, it’s a superb obsession to have, and holding constantly to that supreme heel is a crucial objective for achievement on the race course. “It’s about getting the correct amount of angle on the rudder and ensuring you’ve received good stream over each foils,” says Twiggy.
Each class has a identified optimum heel angle, though this may in all probability fluctuate throughout totally different wind and wave circumstances. “Within the J/70 we’re aiming at 8° of heel in super-light circumstances, however as soon as we’re as much as full energy circumstances we’re aiming for 12°, and an absolute max of 14°. The J/70 has a brief keel so any greater than that and also you’re slipping sideways and shedding grip within the water.
“The J/70 additionally runs a really impartial helm, there’s not a lot really feel within the rudder so it’s tempting to let the boat heel a bit extra to leeward, simply to get a bit extra climate helm and a bit extra chunk,” he explains.
Twiggy warns towards this temptation, however admits there are few shortcuts to getting comfy with such a impartial helm aside from extra time within the boat.
Regardless of the wind and wave circumstances, correct setup of the rig will make it quite a bit simpler to attain constant heel angle. So assuming you’ve received the static rig settings in the appropriate place, listed here are Twiggy’s greatest ideas for reaching that optimum angle of assault on an ever-changing race course.
Have a heel monitor
Make sure that one particular person on the boat is tasked with keeping track of heel angle – your ‘heel angle monitor’. In a Cape 31 it will in all probability be somebody on the foredeck crew, whereas within the J/70 it’s usually my function as jib trimmer. It’s additionally essential to have suggestions from the helmsman about what they’re feeling via the rudder, and in the event that they’re battling an excessive amount of load on the helm.
Construct your personal psychological gauge and spatial consciousness of what the correct amount of heel appears like. After all you may – and will – use the electronics to maintain you knowledgeable about heel angle too, however there’s at all times a little bit of time lag in what they’re telling you, so utilizing intuition and really feel is at all times your most helpful and up-to-the-moment gauge of optimum heel.
Superb heel angle with fluctuate from boat to boat. Photograph: Cavan Pictures
Physique weight is vital
While you’re crusing in something lower than full-power circumstances, then physique weight is your important software for sustaining fixed heel angle. As jib trimmer on the J/70 I’m the primary to swing my legs inboard and go right down to leeward. You’re at all times in your toes, by no means sitting down for too lengthy, prepared to maneuver up or down as required.
There’s quite a bit you are able to do collectively as a crew in the event you all transfer in unison, leaning out for a gust or inboard for a lull. You possibly can put extra energy into the boat by bringing the traveller up, however watch out to not convey the growth finish too far to windward of centreline otherwise you’ll put the brakes on.
Backstay first
As soon as the breeze has constructed to the purpose the place everyone seems to be full mountain climbing and crew weight is out so far as potential, now you’re adjusting the rig to fluctuate the facility via any modifications within the breeze. On most keelboats the backstay is your first level of adjustment.
Preserve winding on the backstay as much as the purpose the place you see these hunger creases within the luff of the mainsail. Don’t go any additional than this. The very last thing you wish to do is ease the traveller to leeward – solely do that if you’ve adjusted all the pieces else first. It’s not essentially true for all keelboats, however on the J/70 preserve tightening the vang, and rigidity the Cunningham.
Simply remember that pulling on the Cunningham tends to place you in a decrease mode, so any time it’s worthwhile to preserve your pointing capacity – out of a busy begin line or dwelling in a skinny lane with a ship tight to leeward – don’t pull on the Cunningham too onerous.
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Be pre-emptive
Somebody on the boat must be calling in each gust and lull, counting down the seconds till it’s about to reach. It’s not a simple ability, however nonetheless higher to do it half-well than not do all of it. The extra you expect and pre-empt a gust or a lull, the smaller the changes you’ll have to make.
Should you wait till the gust hits, the boat and the heel angle will increase, the inertia of the mast turns into an additional issue within the equation, and it’s worthwhile to ease extra quantities of mainsail and jib to get the boat again on its ft. So a bit motion early is means, means higher than an enormous motion too late.
Keep away from the stagger
As soon as the breeze is basically up there and also you’ve used all of your different depowering instruments, the one issues left are to ease the sails. When the principle trimmer eases the traveller, the jib must exit too, to maintain an open slot and keep away from the luff of the mainsail turning inside out an excessive amount of. Holding the boat shifting in robust winds is a mix of correct steering with optimistic trimming of the sails out and in in unison.
Sometimes a gust will hit, perhaps concurrently you hit an enormous wave, and the boat will begin staggering. Now you’re in disaster mode, nicely previous optimum heel angle. Simply keep calm, press ‘reset’, and work onerous collectively to get the boat again on its ft and again within the groove as quickly as potential.
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