TECHNIQUE How to reduce heeling to go stronger upwind

If you want to make your boat run more, to get some good satisfaction out of racing and have fun cruising as well, you’ve come to the right place. We will reveal all the tricks together with Phi!Number experts. In the chair, for the first three lessons related to the pursuit of maximum upwind speed, rises Roberto Spata, one of the most successful sailors on the race courses, owner of New Wind: We learned how to adjust the mast and how to interpret all the “signals” our boat sends us. In this latest installment, we delve into solutions to reduce boat heeling to “walk” stronger.

HERE YOU WILL FIND THE FIRST EPISODE

HERE THE SECOND INSTALLMENT

Upwind speed: shape stability and heeling

There are different heeling tendencies, this depends mainly on the shape and weight of the keel and the water lines of the boat model. For example, some models have a limited keel weight, but due to stability coming from the shape and position of the hull volumes they manage to have an acceptable heel; conversely, there are shapes that are not very prone to righting and need a higher keel weight.

In the event that achieving such a balance is not possible, it is rather difficult to think of reducing the heeling without making substantial changes especially on the keel weight. However, before doing so, my advice is to follow, in addition to the tree setting previously illustrated, some small steps that can increase straightening and decrease heeling even substantially.

How to decrease boat heeling

1. Relocate “unnecessary” or infrequently used weights downward. This contributes to lowering the total center of gravity of the boat;
2. Remove unnecessary weights from the ends (bow and stern and mast) by placing them amidships thus reducing pitching and increasing righting;
3. If it is not possible to change the keel, a few loaves of lead can be placed in the bilge between the spinners that make up the bottom structure of the boat and the keel attachment: they, too, help to lower the total center of gravity of the boat and increase its righting while weighing down the boat
4. Last but certainly not least, we check that our sails are not too old and deformed, as they would contribute to increased heeling. In fact, after repeated use, sails become fatter (especially if they are made of fabrics such as dacron) bringing the draft, the position of the sail’s maximum depth, beyond 50 percent of the Remember, then, that sails are our engine and as such should be properly cared for.

Bottom line
To recap, we have learned how important the shape of upwind sails is to achieve the highest possible efficiency, including ease of handling and heeling. And we also learned how mast trim can affect the shape of the sails themselves with the following consequentiality:

Mast trim -) sail profile -) less heeling -) trim, simplicity and efficiency -) speed and angle

All of the above elements interact closely with each other, and once set up, steering your boat will become a breeze and you will be able to enjoy stress-free miles and miles even in sustained winds.

Roberto Spata

PHI!NUMBER AND ITS EXPERTS
Phi!Number, an Italian company for over 10 years dedicated to fine-tuning sailing projects with numerous achievements at the international level, has a mission based on three key points: first, reaching the top of the rankings, then the technical growth and enjoyment of the owner and his team, as well as the right choices and better budget management and optimization. How? Drawing on the cooperation of the best sailors and experts to optimize every aspect of boat, crew, logistics, sponsor management and suppliers.

In collaboration with the Giornale Della Vela, Phi!Number presents a periodic review of the topics that are fundamental to determining a real leap forward in sailing. We begin with the tricks to more easily and quickly steer one’s boat upwind through mast adjustment. The “prof in the chair” for this cycle is from one of the leading experts in the field: Roberto Spata, former owner of New Wind and multiple European and world champion in various classes. There are some certainties in the sailing world: those who have frequented the race courses know that one of them is that the boats where Roberto sails are faster. www.phi-number.com

WE ARE CREATING THE JOURNAL OF SAILING SAILING TEAM! DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF IT?

I want you! Would you like to participate in a racing season with an optimized race boat, alongside Phi!Number’s true professional champions on board? Nothing more than a project like this will allow you to grow technically by participating in the most important offshore and between the buoys events in Italy in 2020!

The boat is the bomb: Cheyenne, a race-prepared Rodman 42 that has been featured on the offshore courses and between the buoys in recent seasons And not only that, you will be able to attend free educational appointments and technical lectures on sailing-specific topics (regulation, setting, communication, mental, etc.) given by Phi!Number experts! Selection is open.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE (WITH LOTS OF DISCOUNT)
If you are up for the challenge and want to get involved write now for information and reservations to: info@phi-number.com! If you write VELASAILINGTEAM in the subject line of the email you will automatically get a 10% discount on the program registration fee!

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