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A Prescription for Better Upwind Speed


A Prescription for Better Upwind Speed

A cause-and-effect guide to getting power in your sails when you need it and adjusting for when you don’t.

August 20, 2019
 
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Etchells
The ever-adjustable Etchells has the tools to infinitely adjust the sail-power demands for certain modes. Off the start, for example, a high traveler and sails sheeted hard allows a high mode to hold a lane. Paul Todd/NOOD Regatta

After a successful day of one-design racing I’m often asked: “What base numbers do you use?” and “What were your rig settings today?” These are valid enquiries, and like tuning guides, they’re a great place to start when initially setting up your boat. At the end of the day, however, consistent speed usually comes down to knowing how to adapt, on the fly, to changing conditions. It sounds pretty simple: first, identify the problem—inability to point, lack of speed—then, look critically at your setup to find a solution.

But there’s a lot more to it than that.

Let’s start with one basic principle: a boat is either looking for power, in perfect power, or overpowered.

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