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Atlantic Tuning Guide
Sail Information
|| Atlantic Tuning Guide
|| Contact Atlantic
Experts || Order
North Sails One Design's Atlantic tuning booklet
will cover mast tuning, sail care, boat preparation and sail trimming
tips. If you have any questions or need any advise please feel free
to contact us. Our phone number, fax number, address and e-mail addresses
are at the end of this guide.
Remember, this is the general mast set-up and tuning
used by the top Atlantic sailors. If you tune your boat by these instructions
you will give yourself that advantage you need to win the season series,
fleet championship or Nationals.
Tuning the rig
Before stepping mast
Make sure spreaders are solidly fixed and the brackets tightly riveted
to the mast. Check to see that they are even height at the shrouds.
Check Rake
Hook tape to main halyard and hoist completely to top of the mast (use
a safety line in case tape breaks.) Measure to intersection of transom
and deck at centerline of boat (back of boat) 40' 8" to 40' 5",
adjust headstay so that you fall in this range.
Tensioning the Shrouds
& Centering the Mast
Remove all gear from boat and make sure that ballast is centered. Hook
a tape measure on jib or spinnaker halyard and measure down to water
on each side of boat alongside of chainplates. Make sure that with tension
on the tape being equal that this measurement is also equal on both
sides of boat. For future reference, make note if it is equal to the
rail on both sides of the boat. On most, it's 1/8" or 1/4"
different. Tension the upper shrouds to 880 lbs. Check the rake and
adjust the headstay if necessary.
Blocking the Mast at
the Partners
Put wedges or blocks behind the mast to push the mast forward until
you have 2" - 3" of pre-bend. Also, put wedges or blocks at
the side of the mast to keep it centered in the boat. The center of
the boat is not necessarily at the center of the mast partners. Position
the mast so it is straight sideways. This may be more easily done after
tensioning the lower shrouds.
Tensioning the lower shrouds
Tension so that the mast is straight sideways. Tension should be 620
lbs. Pre-bend should now be 1 1/2" - 2". Headstay should be
barely measurable on the gauge - approximately 5-10 (See Tension Gauge Conversion Chart). If it is more,
push the mast further forward in the partners (thicker blocks behind)
and re-tension lower shrouds accordingly. Check rake again to see that
is hasn't changed too much.
Important items to remember
For breezes under 5 knots
1. Make certain you loosen headstay 3 - 5 turns and use some backstay
tension. This will optimize your main and jib shape for light air performance.
2. Put a shackle or line to let the tack of the jib
4" above deck. It is too low, the foot will lay on the deck and
you won't be able to get sufficient leech tension.
Setting your jib leads
2' 2" apart at 8' 2" back from headstay. Use a barber hauler
to pull the lead outboard 2" in slop or heavy air (over 20 knots.)
Range of fore and aft sheeting is 8' 1" to 8' 6" with 8' 3"
to 8' 4" being the average - forward for light air and slop (with
2" barber hauler at same time.) Aft for smooth water and medium
air or for heavy air.
Setting the Main Outhaul
Loosen the outhaul so some shelf opens in light air approximately 4"
for smooth water or 8" for rough water. Tighten progressively as
the wind blows harder.
Setting the Main Cunningham
Allow slight wrinkles to come in luff of main up to spreaders in anything
under 12 knots. In stronger winds, when the boat is easily heeled down
to her lines, pull the luff smooth. If in doubt, allow slight wrinkles
in the lower 1/3 of the sail.
Setting the Jib Luff
Loosen halyard until you get a slight wrinkle at each hank for light
air. In more wind, pull it just smooth.
Proper Mainsheet trim
Trim to make top batten parallel to the boom. The sail trimmer should
get under the boom and sight up to check for this. It needs to be checked
each time another adjustment is made. For flat water moderate breeze
conditions, the mainsheet can be overtrimmed to make the top batten
point to weather 5 degrees. In light air, slop or in heavy air, undertrim
so the top batten points to leeward 5 degrees.
Proper Jib Sheet trim
Trim to make the middle batten parallel to centerline. Top batten in
light to moderate air points to leeward 10 degrees to 45 degrees, depending
on wind pressure -- less wind pressure ease some more. More wind pressure,
trim harder. As the wind blows harder, the top batten gets more nearly
parallel to the middle batten and hence the centerline.
Atlantic Sail Care
Your North Atlantic sails are constructed with the
best materials available on the market. Before we made your sails we
tested many different fabrics from the best suppliers in the world.
Mainsail
It is not necessary to remove
the battens from the main when storing it. Be certain to roll the sail
up parallel to the battens to avoid putting a permanent twist in them.
Watch the mainsail for signs of wear on the batten
pockets and where the sail hits the shrouds. Wash the sail off with
fresh water when it gets salty and dry thoroughly before storing.
When lowering the mainsail have a crew member at the
leech pull back on the leech to help keep the sail from folding on itself.
Jib
When rolling the jib, keep the battens
parallel to the leech. Roll from the head to foot. Avoid stepping on
the sail when lowered for downwind sailing. Attempt to pull back on
the leech when lowering the jib. Wash the jib off with fresh water when
salty and dry thoroughly before storing.
Spinnaker
To prolong the life of your spinnaker,
always store it dry and clean. Rinse with fresh water when it gets salty
and dry before storing. Fold your spinnaker to store it if possible.
Good Sailing!!
For tuning help, contact the
North Atlantic experts.
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