of the sail, or just the places of greatest wear like the leech and along the foot where it will hit the lifelines, pulpit and stanchions. Having fewer headsails to span
the expected wind range saves effort, space below and cost. Another way that UK Sailmakers can offer more wind range coverage with less sails is making the jib reefable. Installing a slab reef with a zipper system to contain the reefed section of the sail (see the video in the “how to” section of
www.uksailmakers.com). UK Sailmakers Germany’s Dirk Manno says, ‘a reefable jib can be reefed at both clew and tack for heavy air. Reefing is quicker than a sail change, plus one less sail to carry’. In the summer of 2020, Swedish
sailors Bo and Sten Bergqvist sailed their X-332 NN to first place in class and first in fleet in Sweden’s premier doublehanded race, the 2020 Pantaenius Bohsracet. The 170-mile race is limited to 200 boats and is sailed along the western coast of Sweden. After temporarily losing their lead to Dehler 33 Den Röde (another UK customer), when the wind went light early in the race, Bo Bergqvist said, ‘we got moving after raising our new jib top (made out of code zero laminate). We slid past the Dehler again while going barely one knot. An hour after sunset the wind died again, and we changed to the .5 oz
Above: sail handling skills and planning ahead are paramount in short-handed racing. When approaching a leeward mark, it pays to get the kite down earlier than you would with a full crew. Right: the JPK 1080 Fridawon its class in the Baltic 500 Challenge
spinnaker. Luckily we had just purchased 3mm light air sheets and the sail was able to fill.’ Once again showing the top boats are prepared to the maximum. Geoff Bishop of UK Sailmakers
Fremantle says that in a windy venue, such as Western Australia, headsails with hanks offer safe, reliable handling. Using hanks, the whole sail is attached to the yacht when hoisting and lowering, which is not the case on a headsail with foil tapes. A whole article can be written on the pros and cons of the different
headsail luff attachment methods, but it must be reiterated that the best way to start racing is with the boat and sails you already have. When you’ve learned more about your skills, needs and events you aspire to, then you can work with your sailmaker to make the necessary changes. There’s a whole doublehanded educational page on UK Sailmakers’ website below, where you will find videos, photos and articles to set up and suit-up your boat.
www.uksailmakers.com/doublehand ed-racing-tips
q SEAHORSE 81
KASSIAN JURGENS /
SEGEL-FOTOS.COM
LASSE EKLOF –
YACHTPHOTO.SE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120
