Getting a SF 37 moving.

[griogair]

Hi All,

I've just discovered this message board and hopefully somebody kind out there will give me a reply. I'm going to be sailing in a three day regatta on a sun fast 37. The rig is fixed as it is a Sunsail boat so that is out of my control. So is there any tips as to the fastest way to sail the boat both downwind and upwind. Also I have been informed that the Sunsail boats have new sets of sails which are Hyde so if anybody has any sail setting tips I would be much obliged as well.

Ta.

[Tim]

Where to start!

Are you after SF37 specific tips, or racing advice generally?

[griogair]

specific tips would be good. Trim and balance downwind. Is it better to feather or just power on upwind. How much heel can you get away with upwind. As i said in the previous post I don't have any control over the rig settings so its more a case of working with whats available. Anything really to do with the handling of the boat to make it go fast.

[Tim]

I get you!

Let's start on upwind first.

Don't feather whatever you do as this will destroy your speed. The SF37 is quite heavy and you need to maintain speed once you have it. It's also quite wide and flat bottomed so it responds well to being kept as flat as possible. Beating, this means a lot of work for your main trimmer. He needs to work the traveller continually in the gusts to keep the boat upright and powering through them.

The rig should be reasonably well set up, just adjust your halyards, cunningham and particularly backstay to get the power right.

For downwind you need to get the angle right. Listen to your kite trimmer and sail high enough to give him enough pressure. As the wind build you can sail deeper and deeper and look to use the waves. Keep crew weight in the middle of the boat and make sure you don't dig the transom in.

If you need any more let me know.