The Art of Trimming

December 7th, 2006

Here are LSD we are very lucky to be surrounded by intelligent people who know what they are talking about. It definitely helps us with worthy content!!!

Well respected yachtsman Adrian Fingals is again a special guest writer for LSD and this time discusses “The Art of Trimming”.

We will look at some of the simple things which can help you improve as a Trimmer and make the boat faster in the process.

The three C’s – Clothing, Communication and Calibration.

In today’s modern one design fleet racing the pace is frantic and the first step to improving your trimming is the get the correct protective gear, just like other sports without the correct gear it is harder to play the game. If you have all the gear you will also look the part at the club after sailing.

CLOTHING

Knee Pads
A few years back I was racing without the use of knee pads. Many of the top trimmers in the United States were using them. I thought they were soft!!! I didn’t think I needed them. Knee pads for me have been the most useful tools of my trade to help get the job done quicker. When top handling winches on many of the one-design yacht classes (Farr 40, Sydney 38 etc.) you are always worried about banging your knees as you rush down to the leeward side and really get your back into grinding the winch. Believe me knee pads are the go! You can crash around the cockpit at a high speed and never worry about hurting yourself.

Gloves
Gloves are a must in today’s racing. Handling ropes in these highly loaded craft can be disastrous (rope burn can be a very serious injury). Racing only on the weekend your hands have time to heal for the next weeks racing. If you are doing an event for a few days you want to make sure your hands are in good shape. If your hands get a work out on the first day of the championship it will be a painful regatta. Always remove rings from fingers (they can get caught in equipment and tear your finger off). Gloves also protect the back of your hands from sun exposure (skin cancer).

Other Stuff
Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeve drip dry shirt and quick dry pants and shoes are also part of your tool kit and will help you perform at a higher level for longer periods of time. You will stay comfortable and avoid that dreaded gunwale bum with padded drip dry shorts.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is a vital asset to the trimmer role. If you are a gatherer of information and you need to then pass it on the Helmsperson and Tactician at the correct time.

Upwind and downwind you are constantly monitoring your target speeds watching to see if the boat is going to fast or to slow and then pass that information back to the Helmsperson.

Upwind
As the speed builds keep informing the Brains Trust when you are at your target speed if you are below speed advise them we may need to change the sail settings and build the speed a little. If the boat is sailing faster than the target speeds trim a little harder and make the helm point a little higher to get the best V.M.G. The critical thing here is to relay this information to the Helmsperson and Tactician. In a very accurate manner, never shout always pass it on in a very calm manner. This way the Helmsperson can be 100% focused on steering.

The Tactician will need to be aware of what mode of trim you are in (tight, medium or free trim) depending on his tactical needs and position. If the Tactician needs to point hight to lee bow a competitor make sure you replay to him that you are at your maximum trim, because at the same time he will constantly advising you of what mode you need to be in.

Downwind
The Helmsperson needs to be aware of how much pressure is in the spinnaker (tension in the sheet) as this is an indicator for them on how high or low they may need to sail. As the sheet tension increases this mean the spinnaker is loaded and the helm can sail a lower course to the next mark, as the pressure in the sheet decreases you need to advise the helm of this so he can sail a closer angle to the wind an increase the speed. You are constantly talking to the Helmsperson to help them find the sweet spot downwind.

If in doubt ease it out!!!

A sail which is over trimmed downwind will always be slower. Keep the spinnaker just curling on the luff for the first few inches.

CALIBRATION

Being able to reproduce your setting is a key ingredient to fast sailing. Mark all your control lines with a permanent market and try and use a numbering system. Colour-coding can also be very effective as in the head of the battle (tacking duel eg.) you eye can pick up the colours very quickly. Over a period of time you will start to find familiar settings for the different wind strengths with each sail you have hoisted.

Calibrate (jib car position, jib sheet, halyard tension, cunningham, outhaul etc.). Try to keep a written log of all your control settings and what number or colour you were on for certain breeze strengths. This log will become a critical document to your boats speed and will give all team members an idea of the fast settings.

Over time the Helmsperson becomes familiar with the consistent shapes in his sails. This will be a big help as he gets into the groove of steering after every manoeuvre.

If you are in a tacking duel on the last windward work you will be able to get to the fast settings quickly and inch ahead of your competitors.

Our sport has so many variables that are out of our control. If you can reduce the variables we will have a better chance of performing at a more consistent level.

Telltales
Telltales are often overlooked. They need to be in perfect working conditi9on (no furry ends) they are the only tool the Trimmer has in his kit to tell if the wind is flowing over the sail correctly.

Keep them away from seems in the sail, numbers and batter ends. These areas are always a problem as nine times out of then the Telltale is caught up and not doing its job. This can be very frustrating for the Helmsperson.

Make sure you have sufficient telltales on all your working sails (one is not enough). Wool needs to be used for the steering Telltales at the front if the jib and in the middle of the sails. Light spinnaker material needs to be placed on the leech for your trim telltales. If the spinnaker cloth type are used in the middle of the sail they will stick to the sail when wet and always be facing backwards (making the Helmsperson look like a steering ace).

Coat the Telltales with a silicone based product such as McLube or Ronstan Sail Fast. This stops them absorbing water and sticking to the sail.

Today with some of our modern sail cloths which are very dark in colour (carbon) we need to look at some very bright colour so we can see them though the dark cloth on the leeward side of the sail (fluro colours are best for this cloth).

Over the years I have found that 5-ply 100-gram wool is best to use. The wool can be to heavy in the light wind and will not detect change.

Bit of advice
Always do a few basic stretches before you start to turn the winches or Monday morning at the office can be a painful experience.

Keep it simple and have fun!

Adrian Finglas

Adrian Finglas is a professional Yachtsman and Olympic Sailing Coach. Adrian has a vast experience ranging from America’s Cup boats to Dinghys and has been involved with many high profile yachting teams. He has won 9 Australian Titles in various classes from 505, 420 and 470 and also works with many Olympic teams and specialised in double handled classes.