Hi Pete, Thanks for the reply. I'm usually sailing solo or with just my wife, who is a lightweight. My sails aren't old. My current Ensign does have a nice backstay tensioner; I've been shy about cranking too hard on it. But I'll definitely go through the sail flattening drill when I get out there this year and see what I can do, and what difference it makes. I've probably just gotten lazy. Can't wait to get in the water!

Hi Joe,

Not sure why you are heeling so much. There are four of us on the boat when racing and we can keep the boat flat with our weight on the windward rail and sail trim when the wind is blowing 10 to 15. How many crew do you have on the rail and what do they weigh? You need to be able to flatten your main to depower the sail with lots of backstay, the outhaul fully extended and the mainsheet on hard. If you have an old sail that is stretched and has a big belly that could be your problem. If you have a flat sail but need to depower more, twist off the upper leech, ease the traveller down or ease the boom out to narrow your angle of attack. Remember you can also feather up to flatten the boat and gain some distance to windward. Also consider switching to a smaller jib such as a Blade jib. Hope this helps.

Pete

Hi Pete, This is good advice - coming from someone who certainly knows! I don't race, but have been sailing my Ensign for many years off the Maine coast. First #340 and now #2016. I honestly don't know if I can keep my boat that flat and still be sailing! I'm usually a lot closer to 30 degrees than 3 degrees. Conditions are usually 10 - 15kts of wind in a reasonable chop. Is 3 - 5 degrees something I can expect to achieve? I'll certainly be reefed.

Hi Ron,

Keep the boat flat by easing your traveler down. Flat is definitely fast in an Ensign. Most Ensign racers aim for 3 to 5 degrees of heel. At this angle you are getting hydrodynamic lift off your keel and rudder. Remember your keel is an underwater sail. If you have excessive heel there is turbulence around your keel and no lift. Also, excessive heel means you are slipping sideways and although you feel like you are going fast, your VMG has dropped off and your upwind progress to the mark is much worse. So easing your traveler down in the condition you described would improve you progress to the mark.

Pete Kogut

Ensign #856

Great day on the lake. Winds 7-12 with lots of 10. We are in a gust @12. The #1 Genoa is right off the spreader, less than an inch. The boom is centered. Cunningham on. We are flat hauling' the mail. Control is not an issue. Me and my crew are sitting on the high side rail. We do have significant heel. Not to the leeward rail, but still significant. My question: To sail flatter, I would have to lower the traveler - everything else is on. Would that make me faster or would you eat the heel and power on?? Ron.

PS: We sailed a great beat to win the first mark.