RAKE, HELM AND HEADSTAY SAG

TUNING AND RAKE, HELM & HEADSTAY SAG

· The basics. the mast should be centered in the (measure. partners can be off) and chocked in the partners.

· Tighten the shrouds so that the mast stays straight.

· Adjust the headstay and backstay so that you have about zero rake with the head and headstay loose but not sagging excessively (Taut, but not tight).

· Use your backstay adjuster to get about 4-5 inches of rake.

· Go sailing in 10 knots or so of wind. The leeward shrouds when close hauled should not flop around.

· Adjust both port and stbd shrouds so that the mast is straight when close hauled and the leeward shrouds are slightly "soft" but not flopping around.

· Now evaluate weather helm, genoa draft and headstay sag. If there's excessive weather helm, draft is aft and headstay sagging, tighten the headstay to move the MH slightly forward and allow you to tighten the headstay (to reduce sag and move genoa draft forward) without generating excessive weather helm.

· If there's neutral helm and headstay sag, take more backstay tension with the adjuster and re-evaluate.

One tip for easily gauging forestay sag. If you put some vertical lines on the forward face of the mast at the lower spreader height, spaced out from the centerline every inch (using a permanent black marker) and then some more on the spreaders moving outboard, you have in essence given yourself a ruler to look at when sitting in the pulpit and looking at the sag under sail in relation to the marks. Once you have figured out what works best for your boat upwind in different windspeeds, you can easily repeat the setting. I've been on so many boats where someone in the cockpit will shout to the foredeck crew "how much sag is there" and there is always this seasoned, mystical look up at the rig and a hand signal between finger and thumb indicating "x" amount of sag.

Forestay - 15% for general sailing, up to 25% while racing.Uppers - 15%for double lowers (which I can't remember if the 305 has those)Forward lowers 10-12%Aft lowers 8 to 10%Single lowers 10-12%The artistic part of the equation is to be out in conditions where the boat is healing over 25 degrees and check how slack the leeward shrouds are. They should be just slack, not flopping around. You'll find that grinding in the backstay upwind will make the aft lowers slacker