DOWNHAULING AND OUTHAULING

Downhauling is more important than most sailors realize. When I rig, I do so with the idea that I may have to make some changes in my leech (trailing edge of the sail) configuration before the session is over. If I've rigged with a little space (about an inch) between the very bottom of my extension and the foot of the mast sleeve, which I often do when I feel that the wind will get stronger, I'll have enough downhaul space to either open the leech (pull the sail all the way down to the very bottom of the mast extension) when the wind picks up, or close the leech when the wind speed drops (let out a little on the downhaul). With a well cut race sail you'll never completely close the leech, but you can tighten it a little to get more low end power.

Actually I'm very picky when it comes to rigging and the changes in downhaul often require going up a notch on my extension, then downhauling to depower. Although it takes more time to make power adjustments, I keep the foot of the sail where I like it - close to the board.

Also, don't underestimate the wisdom of outhauling when the winds come up. That is, flattening the sail to depower. Of course a smaller sail is the ideal situation in high winds but that's not the usual scenario. What more often happens is that you've rigged a 7.0, but now you're on the shore looking at 5.5 winds. Options? Sure, go back to your car, as long as it's not on the opposite shore, and rig a smaller sail. But hurry because by the time you've rigged, the wind will have dropped again and you'll be standing in the same place, but with the opposite problem. The other option is to put your nifty Hotrig to work. Now whatever shore you're on and whatever the winds have decided to do, you can always make power adjustments on the spot. I developed this tool because all too often I had to run back to my car, take the key from it's hiding place, fish around for the right tool, go back to the shore, fix the problem, then go back to the car with the tool then back to the shore - THAT WAS DUMB.

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