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As soon as you are deep enough, make sure you lower the rudder blade fully
by pulling the downhaul hard. You know it is fully down if you feel a gentle
”thud” as the front face of the blade hits the front face of the stock. Cleat the
downhaul and tidy it by winding it around the tiller, pull the sails in and you are
away!
HINT
If you are using the jib, then pulling this sail in first will ensure the bow
continues to swing away from the wind.
For best affect you should ensure that you and your crew position yourselves
to effect the best trim (fore and aft), and heel (sideways). In general the crew
should always be on or in front of the mainsheet swivel jammer, and the helm
aft but up close to it. When planing, the helm and crew should move further aft
The boat should always be sailed as upright as possible.
HINT
As a general rule sit further forward in lighter winds and further aft in stronger
breezes.
5.4 Sailing close-hauled and tacking.
When sailing as close as possible to the wind, it is important to get the boom
close to the centreline. The gnav (strut kicker) should also be firmly tensioned
for upwind work. Either do this before leaving the shore or by quickly luffing
head to wind.
The jib should be sheeted fairly firmly upwind – pull it in bar tight and then
ease 2 ins of sheet – that is as tight as it ever gets and is right for the
moderate winds, but will need easing a bit more for the lighter winds or when
it is breezy. Sail to the jib tell-tails, keeping the leeward one streaming and
the windward (nearest) one either streaming or lifting upwards.
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