Chapter 6 | Mastering the Wind: Advanced Sailing Skills
MAINSAIL TRIM JUST RIGHT
WIND
The mainsail is trimmed properly when you ease it until it luffs, then trim it in just until it stops luffing. The telltales will be streaming off the leech indicating that airflow is smooth on both sides of the mainsail.
TOO TIGHT
Telltale curled forward on the leeward side.
WIND
When the main is trimmed too tight, it is stalled and not being used efficiently. Leech telltales indicate over-trimming when they curl forward on the leeward side of the mailsail (where you may not be able to see them).
TOO LOOSE
WIND luff “bubble” Table of Contents
The luff bubble and the fluttering leech telltales are good indicators that the mainsail needs to be sheeted in more.