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2242 Lakeshore Blvd. Toronto, Ontario Canada, M8V 1A5, 416-503-1931 |
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Tuning Guide 2003
Before stepping the mast:
After Stepping the Mast:
Mainsail: The footshelf on the sail should always remain closed when sailing upwind in all conditions. The mainsail is trimmed so that the top batten is parallel to the boom in all but the windiest conditions. The top telltale on the sail should be streaming 80% of the time. If it’s stalled ease the sheet. The traveler will have to be pulled to windward and the mainsheet trimmed all the time to achieve proper trim. In heavy air we have simply centered the traveler and pin it in place and play the mainsheet and backstay. We have never found it fast to sail with a reef in the Shark main. As while we do not install a flattening reef in the Shark main since there is very little shape down by the foot once the outhaul has been pulled out to the black band. The de-power sequence for the Shark Main is:
Genoa: Halyard Tension / Genoa Cunningham Over the years we have found the least complicated method of tensioning the Genoa halyard is a wench on the top of the cabin. In heavy air it’s common to have the halyard tight enough so that the forestay is loose. This should be the case if you are using the all-purpose setting in heavy air. The goal is to try to match headstay sag to the sailing conditions. Headstay sag affects the overall depth of the headsail. More sag adds depth and makes the entry of the sail rounder and more powerful. The Genoa halyard tension, and the Genoa Cunningham control headstay sag during racing. Before the race you can adjust your outer shrouds in light air use the all-purpose setting of 35. In heavy air tighten the outers 5 turns to take sag out of the forestay. If you over tension the Genoa Cunningham it will take more headstaty sag out then you think. This is one reason why you could easy up on the Genoa Cunningham if you feel like your going slow. Genoa Car Position: The car should be positioned so that if you projected the line that the sheet makes from its turning block through the sail it should bisect the clew. The current generation genoas are cut to be trimmed on the in-board track all the time. If you boat doesn’t have in-board tracks call the loft and we can give you details on were they go. If you find the Genoa needs to be sheeted between pinholes on the Genoa track. The Quantum sails has the head lashed to the wire. If you undo the lashing and lower the sail down the wire you can change the clew height and the Genoa car should want to move forward. If for some reason the leech of the sail hits the jumper wire you can also lower the sail the same way. In most cases depending on mast rake the leech of the sail should be just touching the jumper wire. Sheet Tension Sheet tension affects every characteristic of the sail. More then any other sail control on the boat., the Genoa sheet should be played all the time. As a rule you always want to have speed before pointing. The golden rule always applies to the Shark “when in doubt, let it out.” The Jib: The design concept for the in-board sheeting Jib was for a sail to be fast if wind dies, and when the breeze is really up to have a sail that easy to handle. Sailing with the in-board sheeting Jib is very straightforward. It should be set up just like the Genoa. A simple rule of thumb is to have the two battens parallel to the centerline of the boat. The leech of the Jib will hit the inner shroud when sheeted in light air. When the sail twists open in a breeze the leech will clear the shroud. There is such a small sheeting distance between the sail and the Jib car you have to be very careful not to over sheet this sail. If your crew is struggling pulling in this sail it possible to rig a 2:1 purchase system. If your Sheets are small enough you can simple pass them though the Sails clew ring and tie the bitter end back to the Jib car. You’ll need to have longer sheets if you decide to go the route. The biggest question is when should you switch to the Jib. In 1:1 sail testing we have found that in some wave conditions that the Jib can be faster then a Genoa in wind as low as 14 Knots. The Quantum Jib was specifically designed to be used at the lower wind speed then old designed sails don’t be afraid to be the first to switch. A side benefit of having the sail sheet inboard is that you can tack with the Spinnaker pole up. If you have not installed inboard track for the Jib give the loft a call we can give you measurements. Spinnaker: There’s nothing magic about trimming the Shark spinnaker. A smooth hand and gentle movement on the boat its essential to maintain speed downwind. The Quantum Shark spinnaker is primarily designed for Windward Leeward racing. An aggressive trim may be required if you use this sail in windy close reaching. When broad reaching and running, always work to square the pole as far back as possible. Ease the sheet to maintain a curl, but make sure the bottom of the sail is underneath the top. The luff should run straight from tack to the point of curl. If the head can be eased to weather of the straight line, the pole is under squared. All the basics apply to Shark sailing down wind. Lower the pole in light wind and level the pole in Medium and Heavy wind. An effective and well-practiced system of hoisting and retrieving the spinnaker is key to making gains downwind in large Shark Fleet of today. Off the wind tips:
Summary This guide is just a guide and you may find what works on one boat doesn’t necessarily mean it works for you. It should be used as a common starting point. If you keep records of your settings and results. You should be able to find the ideal sail trim for your type of sailing and you boat. The Shark is a great little boat that inexpensive and doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg to sail. If you have a boat that well maintained and crewed well you should be right up there with the pack, of course a little luck doesn’t hurt. The biggest gain in performance is always achieved by p people who practice and participate in the class on a regular bases. Hope to see you out on the water. Ken Mitchell of Quantum Toronto produced this performance-tuning guide. Please do not hesitate to call anytime. We enjoy hearing from fellow shark sails. Contact Ken Mitchell at ken@quantumsail.ca or by phone at Quantum Sails at 416-503-1931. © Ken Mitchell, 2003. |