Mainsails

• Look at the luff of the main carefully when hauling. Note to halyard man - trim sail, not winch.
• Aim the battens into the centre of the elastics in the pockets.
• Make sure the kicking strap is taut when off the wind.
• Use the mini reef over the full range of its adjustments.
• Use whatever luff tension is necessary to keep chamber just ahead of centre when sailing, by means of the halyard or luff cunningham.

• Reef the mainsail for its first six hours sailing if possible.
• Over tighten the leach line (just enough tension to stop leach fluttering).
• Over tighten main sheet when going windward - use traveller to get boom in the centre line and set with top batten pointing straight aft so that all leach tell tales stream.
• EVER leave the sail flapping with a slack leach at the moorings with the topping lift on. If the boom needs to be raised do this by tensioning the 1st reef clew to maintain leach tension.
• Forget mast bend causes draft to move aft and must be compensated for by increased luff tension.

Headsails

Rule of thumb for setting headsail fairleads - When sail is deliberately over sheeted, the leach should touch the spreaders at the same time as the foot begins to touch the standing rigging.

• Use in the intended wind strength after sail has been set once in a light breeze to establish correct fairlead position.
• Fold carefully, genoas made from stiff restained cloth especially if for use in light airs.

• Leave spreader ends unprotected as they will definitely cut your new sail.
• Use leach line until sail has been broken in (this will take a few hours sailing at the top end of the intended wind strength for the sail).
• Over tension luff on sail, make sure you are watching the sail not the winch.
  NOTE: Modern grooved forestay sails need little tension compared with old wire luffed hank sails.
• Over tension the leach line, make sure it is never left after a days sailing in a fixed position.

Spinnakers

• Use immediately in the intended wind strength (ie no breaking in necessary).
• Bring sheet leads forward when using in heavier winds.
• Keep both clews same height above the water when broad reaching and running.
• Ease halyard off 6-12 inch broad reaching in moderate airs only.

• Leave wet in the bag between races.