REDUCING SAIL AREA As the wind speed increases, a point is reached
where the sail shaping tools have been utilized completely. It is now time to reduce your sail area or “shorten sail”. Your boat will sail just as fast and with less heel.
FLowering the Jib The easiest way to reduce sail is to simply lower or roll up the jib. With just the mainsail up, however, the boat is no longer in balance. The wind pressure on the mainsail will tend to rotate the bow of the boat toward the wind. To compensate, you will need to steer with the tiller pulled slightly to windward to keep the boat sailing straight. Not all boats will sail as well to windward with the jib down.
WIND
WIND
Lowering the Mainsail E The most significant way you can reduce sail is to lower the mainsail. With just the jib up, however, the boat is no longer in balance. The wind pressure on the jib will tend to rotate the bow of the boat away from the wind. To compensate, you will need to steer with the tiller pushed slightly to leeward to keep the boat sailing straight. Most sailboats will not sail to windward well, if at all with just a jib.