A Trim Primer for
Main and Headsail Balance
This document is prepared for trimming main + genoa/jib pairs. Except for
the general principles, the specific procedures are not applicable to the
trim of cat-boats such as Lasers!
The following diagram provides a step-by-step procedure for trimming the
headsail and the mainsail taking into account the interaction between the
two sails.
Only the leeward telltales are shown.
The telltales are shown only in their approximate
positions! For a full discussion of the ideal telltale locations, consult
"
Telling Tales",
"
Truer Tales of
Telltales", and "
One Man's Fact, Other Man's
Fiction" in the Instruction Hotline.
- Telltale States:
Shown in green or red (depending on
the tack shown) as:
"stalled" (lifting up); or
"flying" (straight back); or
"backwinded" (shaking, drooping).
- Sail-shape Control Lines:
Defined in purple letters.
H=Jib Halyard (or jib cunningham)
J=Jib Sheet
L=Jib sheet lead (car)
C=Main cunningham
T=Mainsheet traveler car
M=Mainsheet
O=Main outhaul
- Trim Adjustment Directions:
Adjustments to the controls are noted in black
"action cirles".
If an action circle involves multiple adjustments, they
are undertaken in sequence, top to bottom, with the bottom
adjustment light.
Adjustment directions are shown with arrows with respect to the
the control axis of each control.
EXAMPLE: "H" goes up or down; "T" goes up (to widward) or down (to
leeward);
"O" goes right (in) or left (out), etc.