Setting up the headsail
1 Set the headsail halyard
Raise the headsail and set the halyard tension to get rid of any horizontal creases, but not so much that you introduce vertical creases. This will ensure it is as efficient as possible. A headsail that has vertical creases means that the halyard is too tight.
2 Set the genoa car
Follow the sheet from car to clew so its angle projects 50% up the luff.
3 check the Sheet angle
Sailmakers often add a line from the clew to show you the correct basic angle. With this set, you can move the car forward to tighten the leech, or move if aft for more twist.
4 Use tackle system to adjust as you go
If you have a tackle system for adjusting the car then you can trim as you go, just as long as the sail isn’t under a great amount of pressure. This will allow you to ‘play’ with the ideal trim much more easily.
5 luff Up to reduce pressure
If you do not have a tackle system or are in strong winds, then you will have to luff up to take tension off the sheet and move the car along the track. Working with the helm to do this efficiently takes practice. You can put a foot on the sheet between the car and sail to take the load.
6 get the twist right
As you tighten up on the wind, you’ll need to move the car aft so that the leech does not become too tight. In medium airs, you want maximum drive. The leech and the foot should have roughly the same tension. The telltales should all be flying and the headsail shouldn’t backwind the main.
7 Coming off the wind
Close hauled, you will have sheeted in until the leech of the sail is close to the spreaders. As we bear away, we will ease the sheet for the correct sail setting, but this will allow the leech to be very open. The key to good headsail shape is having control of the leech so as you come off the wind, you will move the car forward to close the leech and increase the power of the sail.
8 focus on your telltales
The clue to whether the sail is set nicely, besides speed, is given by the telltales. These tell us about the airflow at a specific part of the sail. The top set of telltales show a stalled airflow, while the bottom set show a good airflow over both sides of the sail. Make sure your top telltales are also flying properly: if the inner telltale is stalling, move your car forward to reduce twist.
9 how many telltales?
One should have three sets of telltales, a set each at 25% of the way up the luff, 50% and 75%, and they should be about a foot in from the luff. Try not to position telltales by a seam because generally, being made of wool, they will get caught up in the stitching. If you have a furling headsail, you may want to set telltales for each of your reef positions – they can be stuck on easily.
10 Stronger winds
In stronger winds, we want to reduce the power of the sail so we open the leech to spill some air by moving the genoa car aft and sheeting in. Again, we will monitor the set of the sail by checking the telltales and adjusting the car position and sheet accordingly. Not everyone has three sets of telltales on their headsail and if we only have one set, making sure that they are flying at all times should ensure you are getting the best performance out of the sail.
11 working with the main
Once your headsail is set, check it isn’t backwinding the main (making it luff). If it is, you may need to ease the sheet.
12 older headsails
Sails bag with age, causing the draft to move aft. You can lessen this on the headsail by increasing luff tension and moving the genoa car further aft. Better still, get a new sail or see if a sailmaker can recut it.