Cutting Up Closer To The Wind - How To Get My Ketch Rig Sharper?

[autumnbreeze27]

It would help if you could mention how high you can sail (TWA or AWA) and what your goal is and at what wind speed (TWS or AWS)

If the wind is hooting and we're trying to get to windward we can sail overpowered and just pinch to get there, which keeps the VMG up and the TWA down, but you'll have to shorten sail to come off the wind.

Good advice already with barber haulers/inhaulers, but that assumes that your sails are already trimmed as good as they can get (ie: Jib: fairleads are in the right position, right amount of jib sheet, halyard. Main: sheet, traveler, outhaul, halyard, cunningham, Mizzen isn't very critical but shouldn't be dragging either)

[FlightPlan]

I pinch my rig too. Really helps with the lifts and headers. The wind setting on the autopilot works better too. Cruising too close to the wind is not for cruisers in my way of thinking.

I used to race one designs. My wife said if I get another boat (had six) that she would not race. I said fine! We just won't let anyone pass us.

I am amazed how my heavy boat crawls up on the wind when footed off. Not like a J24.

[GILow]

You probably have checked this already but just in case...

I recently discovered that I had the jib cars set too far aft and was not getting nearly enough downforce on the sheet when close hauled. I am a bit ashamed to admit I discovered this by accident too. I had move the port car forward to get it out of the way when fixing a window and forgot to move it back. The next afternoon I was astounded at how high I could point on the starboard tack. Took me a few minutes to work it out.

Matt