The Upwind Speed Mantra: When I’m slow, I sail low.
Here are a few tips that go with the Mantra...
- Attitude: Sometimes you have to go straight and cannot tack, or clear your air, this happens on laylines, early parts of the first windward leg and sometimes when you know the correct side and just have to sail in that direction until you get there. So, your attitude is most important to recognize you may have a difficult spot, but if you concentrate on all the little things you can go fast anyway.
- Speed versus height: When sailing upwind you can point high into the wind, or you can reach away a touch and go fast (sail low). The ideal state is a balance of the two, and actually, a fast upwind sailor is bouncing back and forth between the two choices. If you are high and slow, then put your bow down (away from the wind) and ease your sail, hike a bit more and accelerate. Once your speed is excellent gradually gain height and point your bow back upwind and trim in accordingly. As this becomes a constant ying and yang you'll magically get in "the groove." The groove is when you are maximizing both speed and height, but it takes a little exaggeration of each to find that sweet spot in between.
- Sailing flat: It's all about your sail that is in the water... otherwise known as the wing under the boat… your centerboard. We all know the mainsail is the wing above the water. We also know that it creates lift away from the boat basically in a direction perpendicular to your boom. Your sail uses the wind to generate lift. Under the water you have another wing, the centerboard, but it doesn’t have any wind, it needs water moving around it. The particularly savvy among you will note that in order to have water moving around your centerboard your boat needs to be moving. The faster the boat moves forward the faster the “wind” (water) is moving across your centerboard. Voila! Lift. The centerboard begins to lift and actually scoots your boat to windward and points you further upwind. This is the secret to gaining height upwind by sailing lower and faster!!! This is also why your centerboard needs to be straight down into the water. So, when there is enough wind and you are not in drifting conditions your boat works best flat, with your centerboard deep in the water.