J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum Racing Tools and Techniques Light Air Racing

Hey Everyone,

Any tips on light air racing? Have a regatta this weekend and the wind is going to go away. 10-13 knots friday and sat morning and 6 on sunday for the final day, as of todays forecast.

Some light air tips in no particular order:

• Get all the weight off the boat - no junk in the trunk!
• loose headstay, loose shrouds to reduce mast prebend
• Use light air spinnaker sheets and don't use any metal shackles.
• Don't pinch - lighter air requires deeper upwind angles and hotter downwind angles (no too deep)
• Use the crew to induce leeward heel.
• keep weight forward - minimize bodies in the cockpit
• Halyard tension should be loose for main and jib
• loose foot, traveler up, leech open - try to make all the telltales fly on leech

Thank you sir!

Still need a tactician for BVI spring Regatta this weekend and St Croix international the weekend of the 19th. My offer still stands if you look back at the dm.

Make sure your boat is in top shape for light air. Minimize drag by cleaning the hull thoroughly. Consider using lighter sails (if allowed by your class rules) to optimize performance in lower wind speeds.