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The Dance of Planing Boats

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Lisa Blair Sails the World

HOW TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN BREEZE +

September 9, 2015
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Argghh matey… there’s nothing like the leeward rail buried in the water, the tiller or wheel gripped GREAT CONTENT
firmly fighting the pressure, or is there? The exact right amount of heel in breeze is a hotly debated
In Search of the Perfect Tack
topic amongst many sailors, here is my take on it. SUBSCRIBE

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 For an efficient and comfortable ride, try to keep the heel under 20-25 degrees.

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Any top sailor who specializes in making a boat get from point A to point B as quickly and
efficiently as possible will tell you that the real secret to speed is balance and control. In fact, even
sailors who may not particularly care about making their boat go a tenth of a knot faster upwind ARTICLES
can relate to the need for understanding sail trim and sailing technique as an aid to control.
Ultimately, it is trim and technique that allow you to be the master of your boat when it gets windy The Dance of Planing Boats
(instead of the other way around).

Let me offer a few simple suggestions to control helm and heel, but first, let’s look at the question
of how much heel is appropriate. +

In quantitative terms, the answer is probably somewhere between 20 and 25 degrees maximum
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for a displacement monohull, depending on boat specific characteristics. Multihulls and high
performance monohulls need to be sailed at minimal heel angles. But practically, there is a simpler
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way to know when the boat is tipping over too far. If you have to fight the helm (a rudder angle of
more than 5-7 degrees), you are heeling too far and need to adjust trim or technique. Heel equals
helm. When the boat leans over, it attempts to turn itself back up into the wind, which is referred to
as “weather helm.” To keep the boat going straight, we compensate with the rudder. That's fine up
+
to a point, but the rudder is really a brake. Used too much, and it’s just like dragging a barn door
through the water, which is not a particularly fast or efficient way to sail.

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All sailboats need an optimum of “X” amount of power. A certain amount of heel allows the boat to
sail on its lines, gives the rudder bite, and helps create lift. (That’s why you will see racing crews In Search of the Perfect Tack
huddled on the leeward rail in light air to induce heel.) More than “X” and the extra heel creates
drag. Weather helm is the indicator. Sailing with more helm and heel than is optimal is like driving
your car down the street on the doors instead of on the wheels.

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As in all things, we need to strike a balance and find the middle way. So, how do you stay in
control?
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EASE THE SAILS

The quickest way to get a sailboat back up on its feet is to ease the sheets. This is especially true Cruising Year Round
when sailing on a reach, when you are attempting to sail more or less in a straight line. Easing
mainsail and headsail sheets turns sideways-force into forward-force. Ease far enough and the
sail will luff, spilling excess power. When sailing on a reach, the sails can be eased in every puff (in
part because of the extra horsepower, but also because the apparent wind moves aft). To keep +
constant rudder pressure and consistent heel, ease in the puffs and trim in the lulls when reaching.
Remember, it is the sails that steer the boat. The rudder is just a fine tune device. VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-
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FEATHER, DON’T FIGHT

Upwind the problem is a little more complicated. If you ease the sheets every time you get a puff,
you won't be able to sail as close to the wind as you would with the sails trimmed in. You'll go fast,
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 but won't point well. There's a powerful upwind steering technique called “feathering” that makes
all the difference. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Feathering means sailing by angle of heel instead of maintaining a constant angle to the wind as ARTICLES
indicated to the headsail telltales. If steering upwind when a puff hits, let the boat head up slowly
to balance the helm and maintain a constant angle of heel. Headsail telltales will lift, or “feather,” The Dance of Planing Boats
indicating a slight luff. That’s okay. You don’t need the extra power. As the puff lets off and the
boat begins to get too upright, bear off slightly to maintain heel angle. The telltales will begin to
stream aft in their normal upwind position. Use the telltales in the lulls, but maintain angle of heel
in the puffs by letting the boat head up. +

FLATTER SAILS ARE LESS POWERFUL

If you have to ease the sheets when reaching, or do a lot of feathering to keep the boat on its feet, ARTICLES
it is time for flatter sails. For the headsail, add halyard tension to remove horizontal wrinkles
(perpendicular to the headstay). If you have a backstay adjuster, add tension to minimize headstay Lisa Blair Sails the World
sag. Move the sheet lead aft to flatten the bottom sections of the sail and allow the top to twist
off. For the mainsail, add halyard tension to remove horizontal wrinkles (sound familiar?). Tighten
outhaul to flatten lower third of the mainsail. Add backstay to bend the mast if that is an option.
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A LITTLE LUFFING IS OKAY

Remember, you only need “X” amount of power, so it’s okay to let the sail luff a little. Upwind, drop ARTICLES
the traveler and allow the mainsail to backwind along the forward 20-30%. Move the jib lead aft
and let the top of the jib luff slightly. If you need to drop the traveler to balance the boat, the jib In Search of the Perfect Tack
lead should move aft to match the shape to the mainsail. When reaching, ease the sheets and
allow the sails to luff slightly rather than allowing too much heel. If you have to luff both sails
constantly (more than 50% of mainsail), it’s time to reduce sail area.
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In general some heel is good, too much heel is bad. To paraphrase (rather badly) from an ancient
Zen saying, “as in all things, the correct answer certainly lies in the middle way."
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By Dave Flynn

dflynn@quantumsails.com (mailto:dflynn@quantumsails.com)
Cruising Year Round
Quantum Atlantic

Director of Special Projects

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