Lots of information available about sail trim for sloops. I find practically nothing pertaining to a Nonsuch. Looking for suggestions online or in print.
Bob Dryer
30C170
I have watched a decent video on Utube. It was recorded by a a sail maker if I Remember correctly from Doyle. For many years he was the the person for Nonsuch sails. That is about all I could find. I did have 8 or 9 years ago a 1 page guide from north I think. It was not particularly useful. You may want to check with the sail maker that built your sail.
My only recommendation is trim-it like a big jib.and let it breath. They don’t like being over trimmed. I rarely if ever bring the sail in tighter than the aft corner of the cockpit. And if no one has told you this jibing is an adventure I don’t like to do, things can go badly quickly. There is really nothing to break, but moving fast enough to get the sheet in and out requires serious concentration timing and I touch of luck. If you don’t get it done correctly people can get hurt. You can sail effectively by the lee so it becomes less of an issue. Have fun, great boats to sail for minimal fuss.
The information you’re looking for is on the International Nonsuch Association website at https://nonsuch.org/Instructional-video
If you’re not a member of the INA, you may need to join in order to access it: https://nonsuch.org/join-us
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C #143
I am having a new sail made byPrecision sails they have made many Nonsuch sails . This is the design for mine
Funny I must not be awake I put my last post about new main sail on the wrong thread. I am really liking working with Precision from the design to the complete project. I have a question about mast bend sitting at the dock my mast has well over a foot of bend back. I let my choker out but it still a lot of bend has anyone ever made a boom chalk ? Is there something I am missing that I need to do? My first free stayed boat . there is a freedom 38 right next to my boat and her mast is pretty straight. Jim Moores Arawak N33 #42 Beaufort NC
Bob, I have found the same thing little to no information. My son and I have been sailing every weekend that we can . There is a eight sheet on the INA website I printed it and read it almost every night that’s helpful . We have constantrating on the topping lift and the choker. Lifting the lift working on adjusting really helps to get the right shape in the upper part of the sail And the choker not to tight gives real shape the more we sail the faster and better she sails. I am having a new main sail made my main is heavily hard to maneuver hard to man handle plan on keeping the old one for off shore ,but I want a summer sail Something I can handle myself . So what Ever you find please share
James P. Moores
33n 42# Beaufort NC
The information pages on the INA site, discussion strings on this forum, the the videos and the information you get from more experienced sailors all give you a good starting point but not definitive answers. The trick to sailing the Nonsuch is the same as with any other boat. Practice, Practice Practice. Also while you are out there spend part of your time experimenting. It is best if you can play with the sail shape while the wind is steady and the water flat. Get the boat sailing nicely and check your speed. Then make an adjustment and see if your speed changes. Then go back to the original setting, check your speed and then try something else. With practice you will find what works best for you and your boat.
Also keep an eye on your leech. Sometimes you have to adjust the leech line. Fluttering is bad and so is curl. You want it just tight enough to stop the flutter but not so tight that it puts a curl or hook in the leech.
If you have the opportunity, you are permitted and are interested you should try racing. It will encourage you to hone your skills. Just remember that the kind of racing we do is not for money so it is not worthwhile hurting anyone or the boat to win any race.
Don’t forget that sometimes it is nice to just kick back and enjoy the sail.
This just serves to remind me that I have to get out and practice some more.
Mark Powers
LA Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
One of the advantages of having an old fashioned paddle wheel sensor is that it reacts almost instantly. The GPS has a lag and it’s harder to make those adjustments.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Absolutely correct Joe. I use both to try to determine if the change in speed is due to sail trim or current. Plus I figure speed through the water shows how well or poorly I am sailing. GPS shows how well or poorly I planned my passage.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
Various things …
Yup, they all have “mast bend”. It’s a good thing - shows us that the mast is nice and flexible. Our masts do bend as they sit at the dock. Aluminum, fortunately, is flexible. Might even be more flexible than carbon fibre. Ever see a carbon fibre mast snap (or explode, actually) ?? Not nice to be around that. My N22 is basically a wind surfer with a toaster oven (there’s that darn “toaster oven” business again …). Joe, you are right on about the paddle wheel. Mark, you are right on about all of those comments. George, I, probably like you, “Chicken Gybe”. Only because gybing my boat (as I single hand) makes me nervous. BUT, it’s done and done well by many, all the time. The man who, I believe, designed the Nonsuch sail is Ed Botterell of Doyle in Toronto. He’s getting on and wasn’t in good shape, etc. but he sures knows about sail trim. He wrote a small book on Nonsuch sail trim but I don’t know where you can find it.
If you type in “Nonsuch” on YouTube, you’ll find all of the official Nonsuch sailing videos, shot years ago, but still pertinent.
Jim Moores - you’ll dig your new sail but, let’s be honest, a main for an N33 is a honkin’ big “schmatteh”, as they say. It’s HUGE and can be a beast to manhandle. Your present one is probably all blown out, etc. but, like, nice and pliable and soft, right ? Wait until you have a new, stiff-as-a-board sail to raise and lower !! And, when it drops and flakes, it just may end up a tad bigger and bulkier than your present one. The upside ?? It’ll perform like a million bucks and make the boat even more fun to sail. And, it’ll last and last. Do you use an electric winch to raise it ? And, if I understood what you said about the topping lift, under almost any condition, the topping lift should not take the weight of the boom when you are sailing - it should be slack and the sail itself should be allowed to take it’s designed shape. You can adjust with the choker (to flatten and de-power the sail) or the halyard tension or the leech line. The only time that I’ve sailed with the topping lift taut and holding the boom up a bit (“scandalizing” the main, I think ??) is to get some curvature in the sail when there is almost no wind.
As Mark says, go out there and try anything and everything … preferably in calm and reasonable conditions.
Have fun.
Ernie A. in Toronto
If you have a sail with any full length battens, make sure they are supple near the mast otherwise they will reduce performance to windward. The Botts sail Ed designed for me in 2005/6 did not have full length battens for this reason. Also ease off the choker when running before the wind. It improves air flow and definitly have it eased when attempting a gybe. That helps to reduce the forces at play.
Last year during sailing trials with the standing gaff rig I had full length battens. Performance was excellent in all directions except going to windward. Trials without battens greatly improved windward performance, but not sail stowing. The final trials last year were conducted with the battens thinned for 3’ aft of the mast which helped windward performance and sail handling. For this season I am trying out full length soft battens and will see what happens. I fully endorse all the experienced INA sailors comments on treating the sail as a genoa. It is not a main. Perhaps it should be called a “gemain” ?. Anyway, has anybody seen battens in a true genoa?
Mascouche 26C #1
Torontoe