I sail as flat as possible. Never more than 15 degrees heel. Remember that the keel on the J 30 (just like the j24) is on the small side. As a general hint, I am finding the more experience I gain in the 30, the more it sails like the J-24, EXCEPT that for some reason, trim fore and aft seems to be more sensative on the 30 than it was on the 24. There is a ton of material on J-24 sailing on the web.