I'll agree with Todd - I generally run mine with the mast fully forward. I'll rake one forestay adjustment hole at a time for incremental increases in wind, but I don't bother thinking about it until the wind gets near 20kts or I'm sailing really light. My difference is that I have an all-metal mast, and run the diamonds tight, using the downhaul to induce mast bend. I like to try to keep the slot open to avoid backwinding the main.



A lot of pointing issues with the 18 seem to break down into two things - one is making sure your weight is forward/bows are down, the other is to make certain you are not oversheeting the jib.