Dragonfly 28 - Sailing and Trimming; Trimming the Genoa; Reefing the Mainsail

SAILING AND TRIMMING:
IMPORTANT
It is of great importance to keep your sheets and halyards tidy when sailing because all lines
come to the cockpit. This is an important safety factor and improves the joy of sailing.
MAST TRIMMING:
The mast is always set in one trim position from the yard, but generally the mast may bend
approx. 5 to max 7 cm over the full length. When holding a line to the aft end of the mast
ends, the distance to the mast should be approx. 5 to max 7 cm = 2 or 3".
TRIMMING THE GENOA:
The luff tension is to be adjusted by the jib halyard. In light winds of course only little tension
to avoid wrinkles along the luff. In more wind the luff needs more tension, but only to keep
the luff tight, more is not necessary.
Under normal conditions the genoa car on the cabin roof should be placed near the aft end
of the track, if the genoa ”closes” in the aft leach, move the genoa car aft, and if the genoa
"opens" further up in the aft leach, move the genoa car forward. You can adjust the genoa
car on the manually, the genoa sheet goes through the halyard stopper on the cabin top
marked GENOA. The halyard stopper here is normally always left open, and ONLY closed, if
the winch is needed for another purpose. In case you need to put a reef in the genoa, you
must move the genoa car forward for right trim. For "reef 1" the genoa car is pulled approx.
to the centre of the track before the halyard lead blocks, and, for "reef 2" it is pulled almost
all the way forward – but, check out the trim on the sail. You only use the barber haul system
on beam reach or downwind. While tacking upwind, make sure to pull the genoa in tight, so
the genoa leach is close the lower spreader.
REEFING THE MAINSAIL:
First set the lazy-jack (topping lift) on the boom. If not the mainsail boom will fall.
Sail upwind course only by the genoa and ease off the main sheet completely, the main
halyard is loosened and then you pull the line reef 1 on port side, which is marked on the
halyard stopper. This line will then automatically reef the luff first and next the leach
automatically, as you keep pulling the Reef 1 line. Same procedure applies to reef 2 and the
reverse when reefing out. After each reef, the sail ought to be "packed" with chock cords for
less wind resistance, not needed but it looks nicer.