Newbie Question Mast Rake

My first sail on my new used H-16 with the wife I raised the jib to the top cleated it down and went sailing winds 18 to 22 Flew a hull across the lake nice control very fast. That nite I reread the assembly manuel it states to downhual the jib so there is 4 inches of slack in the forstay. So the following day I did just that with the same conditions 18 - 22 the boat felt like the hulls were full of water slow no flying. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> So someone teach me about mast rake please and do I shorten the side shrouds to keep the rake aft? Thanks for your time and expertise

There is no set dimension for the slack in the H16 forestay. The shrouds and jib luff wire should be tight.

Basic rule of thumb for rigging: The boom blocks should touch or nearly touch the traveler blocks when fully sheeted for the days sailing conditions.

The jib luff wire and shrouds should be tight. Adjust the shrouds down, tension the jib halyard / rig and check the sheeting. Repeat if needed.

Flying a hull will depend on wind strength, sailing angle to the wind and weight on the boat.

Set the jib halyard tight enough so when you pluck it you'll hit high C. Ignore the forestay stay stuff. Regardless of how far back the mast is raked you want the rig tight.

Thanks. Sorry to add This was posted just 15 hours before the tornado hit. 300 yards to the east of my lake and sence I had no idea what 100mph winds would do. My boat flew about 4 docks to the south. Now Im rebuilding my one month old boat Hope to be back on the water before the end of summer.