our last club races of the fall series are today, forecast is wnw 3-4 mph (wnw is a shifty land breeze here. smooth water. i'm a few points out of first place. so how would you optimize upwind trim for these conditions? more or less batten tension? main traveller centered and a little less sheet tension or traveller out 4-6" and sheeted harder? jib sheet travellers in all the way or out 3" to open the slot? any other suggestions?
I always get burned by too much mast rake in light winds. My rig sails faster fully powered up in light winds. I'd go as straight up as the chainplates allow for 3 to 4.
I'd use less batten tension and hope for the best. Mono hull sailors would use more sail shape in light winds and less in strong winds. Cats with more speed will cause wind to become unattached in light winds if the sail shape is deeper. However - 3 to 4 is very light.
I'd try the traveller both ways. Good luck.
i like your suggestions, thanks! unfortunately the prevailing nw got cancelled by a weak southerly sea breeze so we had no wind, at least not till we had all put our boats away and passed out the trophies.