Friuli Venezia Giulia TRIESTE - Fleet Race report.

Sails:
Of course it’s just my comments. Tom Matteusz and anyone must feel free to do their own analyse and share with us. Tom has some pictures that can help.

Mainsail:
The take up we did in the low battens was too much and that unbalance the vertical distribution of the draft of the sail.
Too much camber back on the bottom section.
The main brakes in two pieces in the middle. Difficult to keep the top of the sail closed without over trimming the bottom.
I put the rig forward to create some shape in the middle and I kept no shim in front of the mast to band the bottom part. We increased the speed big time compare to the match racing by doing that and change the Genoa 1 for the new one.
Difficult to keep the sail in control in 25nds a lot of backwind. Before the take-up 20nds flat water code 2 we where flying in Garda.
If I trim the sail to keep control of the twist the bottom back was super close due of the take-up and the boat was going very slow. I had to twist the sail big time to keep the speed up traveller middle or up to keep the sail not flapping totally.
I’ve used the vang upwind to try to band the bottom part of the mast.

Rake setting
8 nds – rake 15
12 nds – rake 20
20 nds – rake 25

My suggestion would be to go back a little bit with this main, re-open the back of the sail keeping the same lufcurve and use this main for heavy air conditions “arme fatale”.
And order a new all purpose main.
Then you have 2 options:
Option 1:
If we want to continue with “One sail” we need to practice and develop the product invest at least on 3 new mainsails having the designer as a coach and observer on every regattas and training camp to make pictures and help us on the tuning of the sail and mast.
Option 2:
If you don’t have this time then you buy what is fast today and you make the best effort to trim it properly.
Personally I would go towards Hiroshy type of main (looks very quick) (North ITA), Cereef (North NZL), BMW (North ?), Artemis.

Genoa:
Same comment than in Garda we are slow in light air our code 1 needs to be replaced (Same comment on the 2 options).
Code 2 looks quite good not super fresh but OK (what do you think TOM ?)

Genaker:
- Code 1 very light air type of spinnaker, or big waves. With flat water I would rather hoist the code 2 above 5/6 nds.
- Code 2 good sail in my opinion.

Racing capture:
Heavy air:
Before baring away top mark 25 nds, call the ease of the sails wait the boat goes flat and you turn the wheel.
Down wind sail fast is safe!
You’ve got 3 types of jibes.
N°1 light air: You ease the kite when fully pressed and then you turn the boat around.
N°2 medium: “French jibe” you bare away slowly and do a slow turn easing the main and filling the kite on the other tack before jibing the main.
N°3 heavy: start the jibe full speed and make sure you turn the boat fast enough on the beginning to jibe the main then you slow down the turn to wait the kite filled.

Approach the gate: 1 minute to the first layline when nothing is clear is a safe move.

Starting routine:
Remember the loops we did in Garda. You position yourself 2’ before the gun that help us to keep the speed and control tour time and distance.

Starting technique: avoid to slow down and stop on the last minute. Must be full speed doing more distance to burn time and not stop and go 15” to the start. That means you must position yourself almost timing with 10” to kill by sailing more distance up and down full speed.