Dragonfly 25 Touring, Owner'S Manual

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For long distance sailing, we recommend preparing a reefing line from the third optional
reef down to second reef, so you easier can control the third reef by hand. When using the
third reef, the conditions are of course not the easiest. Third reef position is not standard.
Avoid reefing downwind, as the mainsail can be blown past the side stays and brake the
battens. Of course, if there is no other way out, you can do it.
MAIN SAIL
The main needs much more trimming than a monohull, especially on the main sheet as the
boat has many speed potentials within few wind forces. This calls for concentrated trimming
if you want maximum speed and fun with your boat. Generally, the leach seen from the
boom end to the mast top must be almost straight: the roach must absolutely not ”fall out”
or twist, unless the boat is pressed too hard. Trimming the main in a breeze takes great
effort – use the preventer/boomvang to trim the mainsail.
TACKING
When tacking the boat, it sometimes helps to ease off the main sheet a little (especially in
strong winds and waves). If you stall the boat after a tack it also helps to ease the main sail
until the boat builds up speed again. If the boat starts to go backwards after a tack, then
immediately turn the tiller reverse to lee, this helps the bow to bear off the wind and get
wind into the sails again. Do not turn the rudder to ”normal” again until the boat starts
moving forward again.
MAIN SAIL FOOT
- is trimmed normally. Light wind when tacking, light curve. Downwind, big curve. Medium
air tacking, flat bottom. And downwind, large curve. Hard wind tacking, flat bottom, and
downwind also flat bottom. But – honestly, we normally never trim the foot – main sheet
and preventer. Only – normal keep a curve of 5-6 cm on the foot.
MAIN SAIL LUFF TENSION
In light wind you set the main luff only to avoid "wrinkles" in the sail, which has the effect
that you easier can help the main when tacking so that the battens are turned right for the
new tack. Luff tension also gives more curve and deeper shape in the mainsail.
In medium air the main halyard is only tightened so much that the wrinkles in the sail are
gone and the luff straight.
In heavy wind the main halyard is tightened hard to flatten the sail at the same time you pull
hard in the main sheet.