There is no arguing with the guy who just won the nation cup sailing they way he did.
I must admit that I also don't adjust the outhaul during racing. It is pre-start if anything and mostly even "just a before leaving the beach" adjustment.
When sailing solo I adjust the downhaul pre-start and maybe during the first leg upwind but then I leave it alone mostly. When double handing I use it more often, but mostly because we have more hands on board that can do different stuff simultaniously.
Mast rotation however is a different story. While I don't adjust it often, it is definately the control I do adjust most often. Sometimes when singlehanding I use the same setting all around the course in say light to medium winds. But otherwise I do really adjust it when going from upwind to downwind and visa versa. I actually have to or you can see the top of mast bend away to leeward VERY far. and that bleeds drive like nobodies business. When singlehanding this is acceptable as you are probably much overpowered anyway, but when doublehanding you really want to maximum drive under spinnaker. If not support the top against spi loads.
On the superwing mast the mast rotation control is very important and can make or break your speed.
And that is exactly why I'm looking at the quick system. That will allow me to fine-tune to optimal upwind performance once and then only switch to downwind rotation and back again by an alternative system.
I agree with Mark that you are far better off sailing well then having all controls lead outward so they can be controlled from the trapeze. On my boat the controls that can be adjusted from the trapeze (when double trapped) are only the downhaul, mainsheet and the main traveller. When single trapped the skipper can also adjust jib and mast rotation. All the others are only beach-based or pre-start adjustments. And this seems to work well enough for my way of sailing.
I also don't have complex spi systems (like double line or cleat on mast setups) or jib downhaul. I don't even have a jib traveller line.
Mark is absolutely right that simple is best.
Wouter
Last edited by Wouter; 07/12/06 08:48 AM.