General Category - Pearson Owners and Enthusiasts > Boat Handling

When do you reef??

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Valor:
@Alma, I like your analogy! I have owned a 911 so I thought it was funny. I don't race but like the saying goes, if 2 boats are sailing, one of them is racing! I agree in what you are saying completely. I have also found that simple things make a big difference in the way the Volvo sails.

 An example of this is, at the end of the last season, I was convinced I needed a new main because it seemed like no matter what I did, it just looked baggy, the draft was in the wrong place and there was almost no drive. I know the headsail is everything on a 323 but the main should do something. I brought the sail to the Doyle loft in Huntington and Mark the owner looked at it and said the sail was in great condition and something didn't sound right. I will omit our conversation to cut a long story down and say he suggested NOT to buy a new main but to convert the sail from a fixed foot to a loose foot and to replace the original thin fiberglass battens with a stiffer modern fiberglass rod type batten. He promised me the sail would be a completely different animal and he was 100% right. Considering all things boat are expensive, it was a minimal and the end results noticeably made the boat perform better. I don't want to say the boat fly's now but compared to what it was last season to what it is now is a huge difference.

Alma:
The 323's outhaul car is robust. Do you think I would see a difference by not attaching the foot mainsail slides?

Rusty Pelican:
I have a footless main, make a big difference.
Lots more efficient.
Get to play with the outhaul too. 

Chance:
  My last three mains on Chance have been loose footed .  I also put on a small ball bearing track  8 " on the boom for the clew.  Which is adjusted by and old harken magic box with ease.  Makes a huge difference  in sail shape and draft position. Usually sail with about 4 to 5"  draft when going to weather in light air up to 12 knots  less as wind picks up depending  on sea state.   Down wind easy off the halyard tension and the foot a little. Vang trim to get your ribbons coming off your battens to flow out.  When going on beat or close haul make sure you trim to get the ribbons to flow.  Set the traveler so the boom is no higher then center line.  If its blowing hard ease the traveler down to reduce helm.  To depower twist off the main by easing the main sheet and pulling your traveler to windward . When sailing up wind  set your jib cars so all three set of tell tails break  at the same time .  Move your cars  forward or aft to get this action, also if over powered move the card back to twist  off the genoa or jib to depower as needed . Your fall off on fore stay should be about 6 inches in the center .  This is the way most sails are cut , helps control the draft keeps from pulling the halyard to tight.  Down wind ease off the halyard a little and back stay if it easily adjustable.     If you can"t point sail fast and don't pinch , make it up in boat speed next best thing.  Every boat in phrf has its days .  Ours is on a beam reach and going downwind with  4'4" draft.  I have been sailing and racing  Chance for the past 41 years.
Bob K

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