Professional sailor and top trimmer Simon Fry shares some downwind speed tips with Andy RiceAccording to \u2018Stir Fry\u2019, as he is widely known, a good trimmer is defined by his or her obsession to make sure the boat is going as fast as possible, all the time.
\n\u201cDave Curtis, one of the greatest one-design sailors ever, once told me something that has stuck with me ever since: \u2018It\u2019s not when you\u2019re fast that counts. It\u2019s when you\u2019re slow that hurts\u2019,\u201d he explained.
\nLike any great trimmer, Stir Fry feels the boat\u2019s pain when it\u2019s going slow. \u201cYou feel the tension in the kite sheet getting too loaded, or too light.
\nSimon Fry is a professional sailor with a vast wealth of experience. Photo: Martinez Studio
\n\u201cBut it\u2019s more than that; it\u2019s the hairs on the back of your neck, it\u2019s the heel of the boat, it\u2019s the changing pressure in your bum cheeks as the boat moves underneath you. And it\u2019s why I only like to wear shorts.\u201d
\nMaybe the hairs on his legs have become attuned to the breeze, but Stir Fry is adamant that his knees have to be exposed to the elements to get the best out of his kite-trimming abilities!
\nBut if you\u2019re not prepared to shed your oilskins in the dead of winter, here are five more of Stir Fry\u2019s top tips for trimming your spinnaker.
\nBe a forward helmsman
\nEvery good helmsman knows that the less you rely on the rudder for changing course, the faster you\u2019ll go. That\u2019s why the relationship between the helmsman and spinnaker trimmer needs to be telepathic. You\u2019re controlling the biggest, most powerful sail on the rig, and how you trim the spinnaker or gennaker has a massive effect on steering the boat.
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tSAIL FASTER SAIL SAFER advanced techniques series Part 4: Upwind trim<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSailing to windward on a badly trimmed boat seems like punishment. We have all felt that jarring crash when the\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t5 expert sailing tips: How to gain an advantage downwind with asymmetric trim<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe beauty of asymmetric sails is that they are very simple to trim. There\u2019s no spinnaker pole to worry about,\u2026<\/p>\n
So think of yourself as the forward helmsman, working in unison with the person at the back controlling the rudder, the aft helmsman. I\u2019ve been fortunate to sail with a number of top-flight helmsmen and just \u2018click\u2019 with them.
\nWith Guillermo Parada on the TP52 Azzurra, we don\u2019t actually talk the same language in real life, but when it comes to knowing what the boat needs, we just seem to understand each other.
\nLess spinnaker curl is more
\nRemember when you were first learning to ride a bike? You\u2019d steer one way, but then you\u2019d have to steer hard the other way to compensate. Eventually, you learn to tone down those massive over-adjustments until you can steer in a straight line.
\nYou see that pendulum swing of overcompensation in the way less experienced sailors curl the kite. Very often, less is more. If you\u2019re nervous, I guarantee you\u2019ll move the sheet more. So focus on reducing that overcompensation and achieving greater consistency on the curl.
\nAn X44 flying a OneSails asymmetric spinnaker. Photo: Francesco Ferri
\nChange gear
\nKnowing when to change gear is a critical part of trimming. Say you\u2019ve got the choice of a VMG spinnaker or a runner. The VMG spinnaker is probably a little flatter, made of lighter fabric, and its job is to be the right sail when the pole is not squared all the way back. It\u2019s likely a little smaller because it has a narrower apparent wind angle.
\nIt\u2019s designed for sailing in the lighter breeze and you should do your due diligence before you get on the boat and work out what the crossovers are. But a good general rule of thumb is, when you bear away around the windward mark, the VMG is going to be the right choice provided the pole is not too far off the forestay.
\nBut as soon as you find yourself squaring the pole back, the bigger sail is going to be faster because now the sail is in drag rather than flow, at which point it\u2019s all about maximum projected area.
\nRemember that your sail is always working in unison with the mainsail and you\u2019re looking to match the two together, to create a unified sail plan. For example, easing or tightening the vang will have an effect not just on the leech profile of the mainsail, it will affect the interaction between the flow exiting the spinnaker leech and the flow on the leeward side of the mainsail.
\nFree the kite
\nDownwind in a strong breeze it can be very tempting to over square the pole, to feel like you\u2019ll stabilise the boat if you really strap the foot of the spinnaker into the jib.
\nRemember your job as the \u2018forward helmsman\u2019. Rather than squaring back the pole too far, let the chute fly away from the boat a bit more and free up the sail plan, otherwise the helmsman will be constantly fighting the boat. Having a freer set-up will also provide more lift and make the boat less prone to nosedive.
\nVariety improves
\nDownwind in a strong breeze it can be very tempting to over square the pole, to feel like you\u2019ll stabilise the boat if you really strap the foot of the spinnaker into the jib.
\nRemember your job as the \u2018forward helmsman\u2019. Rather than squaring back the pole too far, let the chute fly away from the boat a bit more and free up the sail plan, otherwise the helmsman will be constantly fighting the boat. Having a freer set-up will also provide more lift and make the boat less prone to nosedive.
\nThis article first appeared in the January 2021 issue of Yachting World.
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The post How to improve spinnaker trim: Pro sailor Simon Fry shares his secrets appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Professional sailor and top trimmer Simon Fry shares some downwind speed tips with Andy RiceAccording to \u2018Stir Fry\u2019, as he is widely known, a good trimmer is defined by his or her obsession to make sure the boat is going … <\/p>\n