Spinnaker trimming is an art which is improved by the level of concentration of
the trimmer. After a really fast downwind leg, the best trimmers will say they
didn’t see anything that happened on that leg. Sailing in these conditions, the
pole height should be set to generate a 4” to 6” curl - short enough to be con-
trollable and long enough to let the sail breathe. Once the pole height suits the
trimmer, pull the leech down hard with the twing to make the leech mirror the
luff. If you are not sure when to twing, look back at a competitors sail and look
for asymmetry. Also, make sure the
boat isn’t heeling, and watch the
speed carefully. When sailing dead
downwind, heel the boat to wind-
ward and keep the weight forward,
just like light air.
If you are reaching, the .75 oz.
does a great job. Move your crew
weight back to control heel and keep
the rudder immersed, and pull the
pole back as far as possible, but
don’t let the lower part of the spin-
naker luff sag aft and to leeward.
Adjust the power with the mainsheet
and vang tension, and try to keep a
slight windward helm.
J/35
Tuning Guide
14
SPINNAKER TRIM - LIGHT/MODERATE AIR
Running in 12 knots true (6 appar-
ent). The driver has a clear view of
the water ahead - important for
keeping the boat up to speed down-
wind, avoiding kelp, and staying in
sync with wind variations and the
cause and effect of tiny steering
changes.
The clews are even height, but to
maintain sailing at the best VMG, the
set-up could be improved by;
Squaring the pole until the luff
rises vertically to fly with maxi-
mum projection and balance.
Extremely critical in light air.
Pulling the twing will make the
cross-section at the radial
head/belly joining seam more
symmetric. This reduces some of
the lost energy being vented at
the leech. This works best in con-
junction with weather heel.
The inboard end of the
pole could be raised
approx. 12” which will
push the outboard end
away from the mast and
project more sail area.
Onboard AIRBORNE flying a .6 Polyester spinnaker in 12 true (left and below).
The spotter looking aft from below the boom is in the best position to see the
puffs tracking toward the boat from astern. The communication from the spot-
ter to the driver is critical. The discussion might go like this,“Puff is six lengths
back and will track 1.5 lengths to weather. How about going up 5° and catch-
ing it?”. Or, “Now we are in the puff, let‘s bear away 5° to stay in the puff.”
