Sail Shape and Power DEEPER sails have MORE POWER; FLATTER sails have LESS POWER. This is a very important concept to understand!


As long as the crew weight can balance the sailboat and keep it sailing flat and under control upwind, the sail shape can be set for maximum POWER. The moment the crew weight can no longer keep the boat sailing flat and under control without heeling over and under control without having to let out the sails significantly to luff, it is time to DEPOWER the sails.


Power


Point & Speed Modes The FLATTER the sail shapes are, the closer the boat will sail or “point” to the wind. The trade-off is that FLAT sails DE-POWER the boat, generally making the boat go slower. If the breeze is strong enough to not need as much power in your sails to go fast,


then make the sails FLATTER


and you will make more efficient progress upwind.


power to go fast through the water in lighter air or in choppy conditions, make the sails FULLER.


Fuller Sails Draft


Flat Water, Flat Sails When the boat is sailing in waves, it needs MORE POWER to try and get through and over them. When the water is smooth, the boat requires LESS POWER. When the boat doesn’t need power, it is good to FLATTEN the sails and point high. As the waves build, it is important to put more POWER back in the boat by making the sails slightly FULLER.


If the sails need


Flatter Sails


Draft


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Table of Contents


Pointing


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