Sailboat Racing Trim — Part 14
In Chapter 14 of his book Racing Trim, Bill Gladstone talks about boat preparation. The following post shows a short summary of the highlights I got out of from that chapter.
Bottom Preparation
- Make sure that your keel is fair and smooth — and that it matches the design of your boat. The leading edge should be round trailing to a parabola and the trailing edge should cut off at an angle.
- Make sure that the bottom is sanded smooth and finished with an appropriate racing finish.
Below Deck
- Remove excess weight from the boat. Make sure any other moveable weight is stowed low and amidships.
On Deck
- Color code lines so that it easy to know which line is which.
- Make a mark on the head foil about six feet above deck. Raise each sail and put a mark on it to match the head foil mark when the sail has the appropriate halyard tension. *** This is my favorite tip from this chapter. It has really helped me when I’m working pit so that I know the sail is all the way up.
- Double end the foreguy / downhaul so that it can always be adjusted to windward.
- Lead backstay adjustment forward to keep weight out of the stern.
- Make sure that the topping lift line is long enough that it can be left hooked up when you tack after a spinnaker takedown.
This is the fourteenth in a series of posts based on Bill Gladstone’s book Racing TRIM from the North U. Series. Periodically, I post about a chapter or two. This will be my short summary of what I’ve read. You can read the posts to get my abbreviated summary; or you could read through the books with me. Your comments can help point out what you find most interesting, or even poke fun at what I do and don’t know. If you are interested in getting this book, you can find it in the online store section of NorthU.com for $25.
