Tips For Sailing in Light Wind Conditions

Tips For Sailing in Light Wind Conditions

By Andrew Lesslie

On the dock after the race I was asked if there are specific tips for racing in light wind and the answer is that there very definitely are.  I’ve listed the most important ones below. 

At the start:   
In light wind it takes much longer to get to the line, especially against the current.    Get up close to the line and stay there.  An out and back start plan doesn’t work in very light winds.

When sailing upwind:
To get the boat moving in light wind trim your sails with lots of camber, then trim it out as you build speed.  The backstay adjuster flattens both jib and main and is an extremely effective light air tuning tool.  Ease in the lulls and tension it a little to flatten the sails as speed builds. Heel the boat to leeward between ten degrees or so by moving crew to the leeward rail at the widest point of the beam.  Helm from leeward if you can, but keep a watch to windward.


Keep the sail leeches open, jib cars to the back of the track, use the traveler to bring the boom to the center line and the mainsheet to trim the top mainsail telltale to stall not more than 1/3 of the time.  Set the mainsail outhaul until you have 6 inches between boom and foot at the widest point.
Helmsman’s eyes need to be glued to the jib for the whole leg, light air racing requires focus.

  • The tell-tales are unreliable in light wind, use the draft stripe or the sail seam above the jib window to find the groove.
  • If you can’t find the groove, ease the jib sheet 2″ at the winch.  As you gain speed, sheet back in 1″.
  • Don’t pinch!  In very light airs there just isn’t enough power to get out of the lower gears.
  • Minimize movement around the boat, every rock or jolt upsets the flow you’ve so carefully built up.
  • Watch the compass.  Wind oscillations are more pronounced in light winds and you want to be on the lifted tack whenever possible
  • Stay away from the laylines until you’re ready to close the mark. Light wind is shifty and you always want to have the option to tack on a lift.

Tacking:
Smooth is fast- be patient and don’t rush light wind tacks.  Try this version of the 30-30-30 tack sequence:   

  • Preparation- ensure the boat is close hauled and travelling as quickly as conditions permit. Avoid either bearing off or pinching into the tack.  Wait for boat wakes or any small waves to pass before initiating the tack.
  • Phase 1- First 30° of the tack the everyone stays still, helmsman eases the boat gently up to windward, jib stays sheeted in until it luffs.    
  • Phase 2- Middle 30° cast off the jib and crew cross the boat as gently as possible.  Helm stays put and maintains steady steering so the boat coasts through the tack. Crew take slack out of the new jibsheet as it crosses the boat.  Don’t pull too fast or it will back on he new side and stall the tack.
  • Phase 3- Final 30° helmsman reduces tiller angle and steers down to the new course as indicated by the jib- be careful not to over rotate the tack, center the tiller early- the boats momentum and pressure in the jib will complete the rotation.   Finally bring the traveller up over center to put the boom back on the centerline.

Cross current legs:

  • If boat speed is three knots and a cross current is one knot, the heading adjustment to compensate is 20 degrees.
  • If sailing on main and jib, sail high and hold the next mark stationary against the background to maintain a rhumb line course to the mark.
  • If flying a spinnaker and unable to hold a high enough course, sail as high as you can and still make good speed with the spinnaker, then  drop it later in the leg to sail up to the mark under jib.
  • When sailing under jib heel the boat ten degrees to leeward.
  • When sailing under spinnaker sail the boat flat.
  • Move weight forward to minimize turbulence and drag from the stern.
  • Quiet is good.

Running:

  • When running in very light air with a spinnaker, try heading up 30° or so until you build speed, then bear away.  If you lose too much speed, head up again until the pressure comes back into the spinnaker sheet.  
  • When running with a spinnaker in very light air heel the boat to windward to encourage the spinnaker to roll to windward and project a greater area
  • When running with the jib poled out, use the pole topping lift to keep the weight of the pole off the leech and allow the leech to stay open.

Everywhere on the course:

  • Look for areas where the wind is stronger.  Sail away from glassy water, even if it means sailing the ‘wrong’ tack first.
  • Focus, concentration and patience are your strongest skills in very light air.
  • Every skipper/crew is different, but I prefer a very quiet boat in light air, whereas in breeze I like a chatty boat with lots of information exchange.  I just find that in very light air a meditative silence (or near silence) is most effective.