Sail Trim

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
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Yesterday I sailed my Nonsuch 30C for, I think, the 5th time. We were in an overnight race a few months ago but it was really just a night sail for us. We did not know how to trim the sails, it was at night and we could not see the sail but it was fun. Yesterday, however, was the first race of the fall season. I have been looking at the post on this board for sail trim advise and it took me to the Nonsuch members section of the website. Wow, did I get great advise!

We were originally expecting 12-14 with gusts to 18.. Before the race wind prediction was upgraded to 14-16 with gusts to 25. However, at the start we were looking at 10-12 and building.

The trim guide recommended reefing at the 14-16 range but it also mentioned the reef is needed to punch through chop which we did not have on our lake. So we decided not to reef. We tightened the halyard and the choker and let the toping lift loose as recommended. We maintained a speed of 5.8 to 6.2 to weather. When we headed down wind our speed decreased to around 5.4. We loosened the choker downwind. We left the toping lift off.

It was a long race (over 2 hours). We needed to gibe a couple times. We talked about the three possibilities and decided against the Hudson River method so it was between how we would do it normally in a sloop and the 270. We decided to do a controlled gibe and it went great.

About 3/4 through the race the stitching in the bottom sail panel failed. There also appeared to be a rip near the clew. We had to stop and take a reef then the second reef to get past the torn sail. We proceeded on. We lost speed for sure, maybe a knot. A Beneteau 33 that we had been ahead of until our sail failed crossed the finish line about 30 seconds ahead of us but we corrected out ahead of him. So end of story WE WON! What a day!

It would have taken me a long time to figure all that out on my own. Tips to improve would be very welcome. Also, we sailed very flat with wishbone at corner of boat going to weather. We did have a little rock and roll going down wind once or twice. Everyone that saw the race was very impressed with the performance of the boat and so was I. I love this boat!

Fran Trapp
S/V Spirit 106, Nonsuch 30U
Lake Murray, South Carolina

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One of the tings about a Nonsuch and the unstayed rig, is that as the wind builds, the mast bends back and the twist spills wind to reduce heeling. Putting some topping lift on does the same.

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

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Thank you Joe
I will try that next time

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Great work Fran. Sounds like the sail needs repair or replacement. 14-16 knots seems a bit low for a reef with a 30. You do have to watch the gusts but I would think 18 across the deck in a 30 is closer to time to reef. A shoal draft model might need reefing earlier than a standard draft.

Also remember the advice on the INA site is a starting point. Trim like it says and then play with the different settings in different conditions and figure out what works best for you and your boat.

If you have a wind instrument that is networked with a chart plotter try playing with your setting when beating against about 15 to 18 knots of apparent wind. Keep the sail flat (choker hard) and sheet in so that the boom inside the quarter by a foot and try pointing up to 30 degrees apparent and check your velocity made good against what is is when the boom is eased so that it is the quarter and and you are sailing at 35 degrees to the wind. Common wisdom is that the Nonsuch does better with the boom over the quarter and sailing at about 35 degrees but Paul Miller’s Sandpiper (30 Ultra, standard draft keel) has a higher VMG if he sheets in more and points to 30 degrees. I was surprised by this but when I went to for a sail with him the boat speed dropped as we pointed up to 30 but the VMG went up. He has a new sail so it may not work out the same wit ha sail that has a fuller shape. That is why you have to experiment to determine what works best with your boat.

Mark Powers

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Thank you Mark, great information. I am going to have to purchase new sail—soon.
I will implement your suggestions