Tuning Your Tanzer for Heavy Air
By Jim Chastain (T-420)
To obtain maximum enjoyment from
your Tanzer 16, and to feel comfortable in the knowledge that you are sailing
optimally, under any given weather condition or point of sailing, it is
important that you become familiar with how to tune your Tanzer.
With April come the fresh winds
of Spring, and it is vitally important to your peace of mind and personal
safety that you know how to rig and tune for heavy air. While still on shore,
or immediately at launching, prepare your boat for the existing conditions.
Once underway the exertion required to deal with the wind and waves will
prevent you from making the necessary adjustments.
When stepping the mast, make sure
that the mast is placed all the way forward in the deck slot. This will ensure
that the sails can be flattened and close up the slot between the main and jib
for reduced lift. Don't over tighten the shrouds and forestay; this will allow
the mast to flop a little to leeward from one tack to the other, making it
easier to keep the boat flat. You can use mast bend to flatten the mainsail.
Rig the downhaul (or Cunningham) and the boomvang on the main for tightening
(and flattening) the sail. Move your jib block cars all the way back aft from
their normal position in the tracks. This will help flatten the bottom of the
sail and spill off air from the top of the jib. Put a triple purchase on your
mainsheet blocks at the traveler to help with the increased forces that will be
transmitted to your arm through the mainsheet as you may have to constantly
play the main. Make sure the hiking straps are properly adjusted to permit
maximum extension of you and your crew over the side or the boat for hiking out
and balancing the heeling moment. When you raise your sails before heading
out, make sure that the halyards are as tight as you can get them and secured
property, so they won't come loose. Now you're ready to go out!
The objective for heavy air
sailing is to KEEP YOUR BOAT FLAT AND BALANCED at all times with as much power
in the sails as is practicable. Start your heavy air experience being
conservative; as you improve your technique you can opt for more power in the
sails. Flatten out your mainsail by tightening the downhaul (or Cunningham),
the outhaul and the boomvang. Go ahead and put a little mast and boom bend in
it to got the main as flat as possible. 8-12 inches of mast bend is about
right. This depowers the sail- you can always put more draft back into it if
necessary later on, and its a lot easier than trying to tighten up while
underway. Pull the jib in as tight as possible on a beat and cleat it there.
Play the main constantly to balance the varying hearing moment on the boat-
NEVER CLEAT THE MAIN IN HEAVY AIR! The results can be disastrous! Luff the
main all the way and hike out before you even think of luffing the jib. The
jib will power the boat through the chop and keep the boat moving forward. If
you have a traveler that will permit casing the boom considerably, off the
centerline of the boat, do so and flatten your sail with the mainsheet. Look
upwind and keep alert to puffs and sudden windshifts. Be ready to move your
weight about the boat agilely to compensate for the rapid change in heeling
moment.
When sailing off the wind,
overtrim the main so as to stall it out a little. This is good insurance
against a spinout to weather and consequent spill (AKA "Death Roll"--
Ed.). Also, pull the centerboard up at least halfway to allow the boat to
slide to leeward and avoid "tripping" on too much board. Weather
helm will reduce and speed will increase enough so that extra lift will make up
for the loss of board area.
Be conservative until you've
developed your technique for heavy air selling and have the confidence to
challenge the elements. Then go for it! Above all, don't let the preceding
advice on tuning scare you out of getting out in your Tanzer in the wild
stuff. The precautions are advisable but there are only a few thrills in life
that can top riding a planing Tanzer 16 across the waves with your hair flying
straight back and not a dry stitch of clothing on you-- just like hanging on to
a wildcat's tail in a hurricane! Go, get out there, and try it! Watch the
more experienced skipper if you're new, or better yet, crew for him. Once you
master the boat you'll find there's no better way to sail than in heavy air.