Sail Trim - Dave Hodges 

JIBS

  • Drive on jib

  • Go outboard with lead when overpowered - this can be like changing headsails

  • When you go to the rail with a sail, it gets very flat

  • When sheeted outboard, the boat will not point as well, but when you are heavily heeled you go sideways, which is very slow

  • Keep foot flat - top out

  • Move the lead aft, beyond where you think it should be

  • Don't spend time sitting inboard trimming the jib, get out on the rail even if trim is not perfect

  • Having weight on the rail is more advantageous than perfect trim

#1

  • It is easy to sheet too tight

  • Keep leach 6-12" off spreader when foot is tight on the shrouds

  • Pull in tight quickly after a tack and get on rail

#2

  • Use when there are lumpy seas, have plenty of crew weight, and can't carry #1

  • Keep leach 1" off spreader - trim tight

  • If crew weight is light - go to #3, you can point higher with the 3 than with the 2

#3

  • When at the bottom end range of 3 (feel slightly underpowered), leave backstay off, 3 is cut flat has no shape

  • Move lead notch forward on bottom end conditions

  • In bottom end conditions - trim so that the leach is 4" inside spreader tip

  • When you have heavier breeze, keep the leach at the tip of the spreader, this is done by moving lead aft and twisting the sail, which will flatten the foot

MAIN

  • Use main for heel control

  • 12° heel is the most you want

  • Keep boat flat - very fine line between speed and point

  • Put on Main Flattener before you go to the outboard jib lead

  • When you pull on the backstay - pull in the mainsheet to keep the leach tension consistent

  • Backstay flattens main and jib

  • Keep backstay on when tight reaching with the spinnaker - this flattens the main and helps you stay in control

  • Vang is your horsepower on Main when downwind with the spinnaker up

  • 600 lbs. is light crew weight

  • If light weight - sail with looser leach in main

  • Keep the top telltale on the Main full and not stalled

  • When you come out of tack dump the main if the boat heels over too much

  • When the boat heels too much, pull on the backstay first

  • Use vang as well to flatten main

  • In light air, use loose backstay until you have weight on the rail

SPINNAKER

  • M24 has a wide chute which is easy to choke - keep sheet lead far aft

  • Pole down opens leach

  • In most cases keep the clew and tack even

  • When reaching, have the tack slightly lower than clew - this will pull the draft forward and opens the leach

LIGHT AIR

  • When buried don't try to point - go for speed, sail loose, sail with lots of twist

  • Ease sheets when going slower than other boat

  • Have the main top telltale stalled in light air 50% of the time