Upwind is where most boats fall behind on the race course. Here are a few tips
that Jan and I use to sail upwind.
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Sail the boat FLAT, with your weight FORWARD (skipper should
be forward of the traveler bar position). If the wind is strong enough for
both of you to sit on the deck, sit close together – this is a friendly
sport!
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Sheet the jib in fairly tight and cleat it - tight enough so there's
a nice airfoil curve shape but not too flat or too baggy. We usually have
about 2" between the shroud and the jib cloth at the foot. If the wind gets
light, you have to ease the sheet out to maintain the same shape. If the
wind blows, pull the sheet in.
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Sheet in the main until the aft 1/3 of the top batten is almost
parallel to the boom. Avoid "hooking" the battens. In very light air, the
end of the boom will be out over the deck. In moderate air the boom will be
pulled in closer to the center line. In very heavy air, crank on the boom
vang to flatten the sail and play the main to keep the boat flat. Luffing
the main does not slow you down.
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Steer the boat in the "groove" just below where the jib luffs so it's
always full and pulling. The skipper should spend 90% of the time watching
the jib telltales. If you get overpowered, hike and luff the mainsail to
stay flat, NOT the jib!
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Sail on the tack that heads you closest to the windward mark. If you
get a wind shift that forces you "down" away from the mark, tack! If you
get lifted "up" toward the mark, smile.
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When tacking, turn the boat SMOOTHLY through at least 90+ degrees.
Allow about 6 seconds for a turn in light air and about 3 seconds in heavy
air. Release the jibsheet COMPLETELY as soon as the boat starts turning
upwind, and start pulling in on the other jibsheet as the wind blows the
sail around to the new side. No sudden tiller thrusts - don't let the
tiller go out beyond the inside edge of the cockpit seat, and don't pull out
of your turn too early and stall.
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After tacking, don't move your weight over to the new windward side until
the sails start to fill and the boat starts to heel (the more the better),
then one or both bodies can move over and bring the boat flat. This is a
"roll tack".
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Avoid the bad air of another boat. If you're behind a boat, TACK
immediately
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