Dragonfly 32 Swing Wing, Manual

Page: 43 / 80

MAIN SAIL:
The mainsail needs much more trimming than on a monohull, especially on the
mainsheet as the boat has many speed potentials, depending on the wind speed.
This calls for concentrated trimming if you want maximum speed and fun with
your boat. Generally, the leach seen from the backend of the mainsail boom end
to the mast top must be almost straight, no matter what wind force: the roach
must absolutely not ”fall out” or twist unless the boat is pressed to o hard.
Trimming the main in a breeze takes great effort for maximum performance, but
makes sailing more fun.
If the mainsail overpowers the boat upwind, just ease the mainsail traveller
approx. 15
– 20 cm to leeward (6 ” - 8”) .
Going upwind in stronger wind conditions we also recommend to open the
mainsheet
– .
By tacking upwind against waves
– we recommend easing the mainsheet and or
the main traveller to make an easier tack – if the mainsail is too tight - the boat
will too quickly go into the wind again and it is hard to finish a tack procedure,
here it is also vital that the genoa is being pulled in tight quickly.
TACKING:
When tacking with the boat, it sometimes helps to ease off the mainsheet a little
(especially in strong winds and waves). If you stall the boat after a tack it also
helps to ease the mainsail until the boat builds up speed again. If the boat starts
to go backwards after a tack, then immediately turn the rudder blade reverse to
windward, this helps the bow to bear off again and get wind into the sails again.
Do not turn the rudder to
”normal” again until the boat starts moving forward
again.
MAINSAIL FOOT:
- is trimmed normally. Light wind when tacking, light curve approx. max. 12 cm =
5'. Downwind, big curve. Medium air tacking, flat foot. And downwind, large
curve. Hard wind tacking, flat foot max. 10 cm = 4', and downwind also flat foot -
this has little effect only and it is much more important to focus using main sheet