Yes, SX mast and tiger main. Running a spin as well. The tiger main really changes the way the boat feels, its hard to get used to. I've been rotating the mast more and more to get what seems to be the right shape and the tales to flow on both sides. Have tightened the diamonds to 500lbs to get some pre-bend. Think the comptip is bending too much, squaretop seems disturbed. Have installed tell tales on the lower portion of the main but as of yet not been back in the water.Thanks so much for the great advice from all. Are you all saying that boat prep is not important? Shouldn't it at least be cleaned and waxed? One last question, mast rake for light winds- what do the tigers do? Mine is back, second hole from bottom on forestay adjuster. Forward rake requires repositioning of spin pole height on my boat.
Different boats require different variations of the techniques for light air.
Actually trying to get the windward hull out in very light stuff is mostly a waste. Note that I said very light. In most cases you will end up depressing the leeward hull significantly to achieve it, and the drag savings will be minimal. We've tried trapping to leeward to get the windward hull out, it's fun but useless from a speed standpoint.
Just about everything else I've sailed has benefited from crew on the lee bow and skipper at or on the crossbeam, near the mast if possible. In that position the skipper should run all the sails, as it is often very inconvenient for the crew to do the jib without moving around, and the skipper can actually see what the sials are doing. Mast rake can play a big part in how far the skipper and crew need to be forward to get the sterns free.
As for tacking and jibing - I've found that the attention needs to be placed on keeping the boat moving through the water, and crew weight placement can be more important here than sail handling. Worry about keeping the hulls moving through the water and getting the sails over second. Trying to do a roll tack in the really light stuff is mostly a waste. Consider having the crew cross the boat in front of the mast instead of behind can help.
For the most part, stay in the middle of the course and try to take the most direct line to the marks. Chasing breezes on the outside of the course often leaves you without wind outside the course with more distance to recover.
That all having been said - the Hobie-18 is a big time stern dragger, and mast rake only made it worse. In almost all conditions I found that a lot of mast rake made the boat an absolute dog downwind, even if the sterns weren't dragging. Even after I added the spin, in most conditions I ran the mast all the forward. If I raked the mast in anticipation of heavy air that did not materialize I unraked it on the water to keep from dying. Can't emphasize this enough with the 18.
