Upwind Trim and Speed Test

This drone footage shows hard trim and high pointing with flat sails and very little twist - appropriate in this J80 in light to moderate air and very smooth water. In more chop a deeper more twisted shape and wider angle of attack would be needed.

[@arishater8516]

Thank you, any good references of how to adjust sail twist according to the water conditions? We race J80s on the Hudson where water conditions vary all the time.

[@BillGladstoneSailing]

Thanks for the question: For more chop in a similar wind speed a deeper, more twisted sail shape would be preferred. You achieve that with a few adjustments: Jib lead forward a hole or two and a couple of inches of jib sheet ease; outhaul eased a few inches; backstay off (if you had any on); and mainsheet eased a few inches and traveler up to keep the boom on center.
You'd also need to bear away a few degrees to a wider angle of attack to add the power needed to punch through the chop.

[@arishater8516]

Appreciate your response, a follow up question: is that always a good idea to bear off a bit to power up the sail twist or is that specific to the water chop conditions?

[@BillGladstoneSailing]

Generally true: Bear away a couple degrees when sailing with more twist; or rephrased from the opposite perspective: Trim with less twist to point higher. Less twist allows for higher pointing but creates a narrower steering groove. That's ok in smooth water. In more chop we sail with more twist to create a wider steering groove and more camber (fuller sail shapes) for extra power to punch through the chop.