[Rhodes22-list] Beating

[Steve Alm]

Lew,

I tried to post this a few days ago but it never went through--don't know
why.  Here's another try:  First,  do you sail with the pop top up?  If so,
this will increase windage and heel and slow your progress to weather.
Next, are your sails in good shape and not blown out?  If you have the big
175% genny like I do, you might discover that it doesn't perform as well
when it's reefed in. You also might try bringing the jib sheets inboard of
the upper shrouds if your boat is equipped with the inboard fairleads. But
you can only do this if you're reefed in a bit so the jib will clear the
spreaders.  In light to medium winds, take your main sheet traveler all the
way to weather and set the boom about on the center line.  Make sure your
centerboard is down.  Position yourself and/or crew so the boat has some,
but not too much heel to the lee.  You don't want to be straight up, and you
certainly shouldn't heel to weather.  For good sail shape, the general rule
is tight and flat for higher winds, eased and baggy for light winds.  If you
have IMF, tighten the back stays so the mast is straight, then leave it
alone.

These are just the basics.  If this all sounds familiar to you, you might
have some other problem.  How is the condition of your hull, centerboard,
rudder?  Anything dragging in the water such as the motor?

Hope this helps,
Slim