How to Keep a Sailboat in Trim
There are many different sailboat designs, each with different handling characteristics. The steps in this article is for sailing on a sloop, the most common type of sailboat. A sloop has one mast with two sails. The small foresail is called a jib, and the large aft sail, which is attached to a free-swinging boom, is called the mainsail. With other types of boats, the principles are the same, but extra sails or masts can make keeping your sailboat in trim more difficult. Read on to learn how to keep a sailboat in trim.
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Instructions
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Learn about luffing. Luffing is when the sail no longer has a smooth airfoil because it has been let out too far. Typically, a luffing sail will rattle back and forth, making noise in the wind.
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Trim the jib on the correct side. A jib will have two ropes, one on each side. Let the upwind rope loose, and use the downwind rope to trim it.
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Let the jib out until it begins to luff. You have reached the correct point when it no longer has a smooth, concave curve across its surface.
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Pull the jib in until it stops luffing. Usually, the ideal point to trim a sail to is the furthest point out at which it still forms a clean, regular airfoil.
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Once you have trimmed the jib, let the main out until it luffs.
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Pull the main in, just until it stops luffing.
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Re-trim the sails frequently. Small changes in wind or in the course of your boat can throw your sails out of trim and slow the boat down.
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Don't back the main. If you trim the jib in too tight, it can cause the mainsail to luff even if it is trimmed in pretty far. This is called backing the main and is something that you want to avoid, as it will slow you down.
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