Cutter Rig Sail Tuning

[wsstrange]

On a cutter rig at what angle is a staysail set. I set the main 15 degrees greater than the jib.

[Kenomac]

I set all three of our sails parallel which seems to work. Please let me know if I'm doing it wrong.

[Tayana42]

Wsstrange, I'm not a great sail trimmer, not a racer, but I am a very happy cutter sailor. In most wind speeds and angles I agree with Ken that all three sails are set parallel, but it depends.

What is your set up? Staysail on a boom? Adjustable sheet leads? Tell tales on all the sails?

I trim each sail to the conditions, so not just sheeting angle but also twist to have airflow smoothly on each sail. Starting with the sail closest to the wind ( foresail when beating ) trim the Yankee then see the effect it has on the staysail. Then trim the staysail ( sheeting angle and twist ) and notice the effect on the main. Then trim the main. Check that the staysail is not interfering with the slot effect from Yankee to main sail. Easing the staysail sheet or inducing more twist may be needed.

On a reach or running the twist in the staysail may need to be increased.

All that said, in practice as a cruiser not a racer, I generally try to get a good sail trim and then I relax and don't worry about it much ...unless another sailboat approaches on a similar course...



S/V B'Shert

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I set all three of our sails parallel which seems to work. Please let me know if I'm doing it wrong.

I've always trimmed them roughly parallel then tweaked based on telltails.

Big cutter fan too...gives you lots of sail plan options.

[jamhass]

What Tayana42 said ...

I have found (at least on our Valiant 40) that the stays'l is fairly tolerant of oversheeting upwind, especially when coming through a tack, which makes the fubar of sail trim on a tack a little less cumbersome, especially when single-handing.