Setting the jib downwind

[ross_burkin]

This might sound like a bit of a 'newbie' question, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

When sending it downwind, how do you set your jib? Watching a couple of vids it seems that most people just leave it and let if flap about uselessly. I can't help myself, and I sheet it in when I see it's flapping (some how I find time while trimming the kite!). Thoughts?

[Will_Lee]

I adjust it quite a lot. As you speed up the jib needs to be sheeted in more. Oversheeted is worse than undersheeted. Sheeted right is best!

[Tim Noyce]

I generally let it off a big arm full when we go for the bear away, hoist the kite, then when I am on my way through out and back I pull the jib in about half as much as I let it out. Then I generally focus on trimming the kite and staying on the side of the boat. I pay more attention to it in lighter breeze, mainly because I feel I have a bit more time to do it then. In heavy breeze I will never let it flap, but I am guilty in not having it perfectly trimmed!

[phil_kirk]

We don't let ours out much to find the right jib trim.

You have the difficulty that an eased jib will twist and therefore only one part of the sail is trimmed perfectly. It's probably worth getting the trim right on the tell tales half way up the sail to strick the right ballance.

I suspect I'm similar to Tim that I want to get the trim right but am less able to change it in some conditions.

[Tim Noyce]

We might be different to some crews in the respect that when I am crewing, I have control of the main and jib sheet. We have experimented with Alex controlling the jib, but it is much easier for him to worry about steering and t-foil. This may partly be due to the location of the jib cleat. It is on the floor behind the daggerboard case, but is a bit of a pain to adjust even though the cleat platform is angled up and has a wedge riser block.

I always let the jib out for the bearaway but in some respects, hoisting is actually easier with the jib in tight as there is less friction of the kite against the jib. In some windy and busy mark rounding circumstances it might be required for me to bin the hoist half way, jump on the wire to save the boat, then run back in and finish hoisting before getting back and out. In these situations it is very good to have the jib eased as luffing up to avoid a windward boat or a slow mover would be a wet experience.

[roland_trim]

I tend to adjust both main and jib downwind from the back. The main is dead ended onto both job sheets for this reason and it allows me to gybe the jib as well.

Pete will be relieved to know that the "sheet in teeth" problem that I developed over the weekend to make up for the lack of hands is remedied when sailing on the medway - it tastes disgusting. In retrospect progressing downhill with the jib sheet in one's chops is a good way to end up with only gums...

In the rare occaisions when twinning I like the control the jib gives as the extra ability to steer and alter your "flat angle" is suprisingly massive. In the trifle a live jib was essential.

Tim, your post this makes me think - maybe I need to adjust the T-foil more downwind. Currently wwe have "downhill" setting, everytime we move back the foil goes on more fromt he angle and the nose returns to an inch off.  Maybe I should put the T-Foil  on a lever controlled by my foot - a bit like an accelerator pedal...

[Tim Noyce]

Well I don't really know how much t-foil adjusting Alex does from the back, I just like to think that if I have both the main and jib he has his hands free to do it if he wants to!

[Alex C]

The answer is not a great deal. Upwind I adjust it to the conditions and only change it if I feel the boat is stalling or we could get more out of it. Downwind I’ll uncleat it if I’m running out of boat….

I think maybe in the past the t-foil has made me a bit lazy in concentrating on the trim of the boat, so now I don’t use too extreme angles and concentrate more on actually trying to sail the boat. Given the amount of time we spend upside down I think that’s a good thing!

[ross_burkin]

Tim, your post this makes me think - maybe I need to adjust the T-foil more downwind. Currently wwe have "downhill" setting, everytime we move back the foil goes on more fromt he angle and the nose returns to an inch off.  Maybe I should put the T-Foil  on a lever controlled by my foot - a bit like an accelerator pedal...

Will and I thought up rotating foot straps that pull on and let off the T-foil.