Ullman Sails Tuning Guide

SETTING UP YOUR BOAT

These guidelines should be used in all wind conditions for optimum performance

Mast

Your Lido will perform best by allowing the mast to rock back going to weather and forward going off the wind. To determine the proper mast settings, attach a tape measure to the main halyard and hoist it to the top of the mast. The mast rake measurements we use are from the tape measure hoisted to the top of the mast to the centerline of the transom.

Pull the mast back so it is resting on the forestay and one shroud. The mast rake measurement should be 20’ 3-1/2" and 20’ 4-1/2" (Classic Lido 14) or 20’ 7-1/4" and 20’ 8-1/4" (Post 6000 Lido 14).

Pull the mast forward until it is resting on both shrouds. The mast rake measurement should be between 20’ 11" and 21’ 0” (Classic Lido 14) or 21’ 1-1/2" and 21 2-1/2" (Post 6000 Lido 14).

Boat

The Lido 14 Class Rules restrict the amount you can optimize the boat. However, it is very important that the centerboard is centered in the boat and is allowed to gybe to the maximums allowed in the rules. Also, the centerboard should be positioned as far aft as allowed by the rules.

Finally, all control lines should have maximum allowable purchase to make adjustment easier.

SAIL TRIM

In discussing sail trim, there are four wind conditions the sails will be adjusted to. Unless mentioned otherwise, consider our guidelines should be used in all conditions.

Drifting

0 to 3 knots

Underpowered

3 knots to both people sitting on the weather rail

Powered

Both people sitting on the weather rail to hiking as hard as you can keeping the boat flat

Overpowered

Both people hiking hard and not keeping the boat flat

 

Jib Trim

There are four variables to consider when trimming the jib: Jib leads, Jib halyard, Jib sheet-upwind, jib sheet-downwind.

 

Jib Leads

The jib leads should be as far forward as possible

Jib halyard

The jib halyard is used to control the draft of the sail. The draft of the sail should be about 40% back from the luff. When the jib halyard is at the proper tension, the lower third of the sail should have VERY slight crow’s feet. The halyard must be tensioned as the wind increases to keep these crow’s feet in place.

Jib Sheet-Upwind

The jib should be sheeted as tight as possible for the wind conditions.

Foot Curl

View of Jib Leech (Starboard Tack)

Jib Sheet-Off the Wind

When reaching without the whisker pole, the jib sheet should be eased until the jib is just about to luff. If the wind conditions allow the crew to sit to leeward without heeling the boat, they should hold the jib sheet between the jib lead and the jib clew. From this position, the crew should pull down on the sheet to tighten the jib leech so that the jib luff breaks evenly. Also, the crew should adjust the jib foot tension to achieve a similar foot shape as seen when going upwind in drifting conditions. If the boat heels, have the crew trim the jib through the jib lead from a position to keep the boat flat.

When reaching and running with the whisker pole, the pole should be trimmed so that the draft is at 50%. Because the whisker pole is relatively short, do no use the pole when reaching if doubt it will be effective.

 

Main Trim

The main halyard should be pulled to the top of the mast in all conditions.

There are five adjustments to make on the main as wind conditions change.

Cunningham

The main should have wrinkles from the luff to the clew in the lower third of the sail. The cunningham must be tensioned as the wind increases to keep those wrinkles in place.

 

Outhaul

The outhaul tension can be gauged by the distance between the main foot and the boom.

Wind Condition

Distance between main foot and boom

Drifting

6"

Underpowered

6" to 4"

Powered

4" to 2"

Overpowered

2" to 0"

Mainsheet, Boom Vang and Traveller

Upwind Trim

In all conditions, the boom vang should be slack. Also, the mainsheet should be tightened until the top batten is parallel to the boom. The ribbon at the top batten should be flowing between straight back and just drooping or curling behind the leech.

In all conditions except overpowered, the traveller should be centerlined. In overpowered conditions, the traveller should be dropped to leeward to help keep the boat flat.

Off the Wind Trim

In all conditions, the traveller should not be adjusted. Also, the boom vang should be tensioned to keep the top batten parallel with the boom. Finally, the mainsheet should be eased until the sail is about to luff.

BOAT TRIM

Heel

The boat should be sailed as flat as possible in all conditions and points of sail except downwind with the whisker pole. When sailing downwind, heel the boat to weather to reduce wetted surface.

Skipper and Crew Position

In Under-powered conditions, the skipper should sit just aft of the jib lead. The crew should sit just in front of the jib lead. In drifting to underpowered conditions, the skipper and crew should move 6" to 12" forward. In overpowered conditions, the skipper and crew should move aft.

Centerboard height

The centerboard should be all the way down when going upwind. Off the wind, the centerboard should be raised to reduce drag; however, if it is raised too far, the boat will slip sideways. For reference, the board should be raised 1/3 on a beam reach. It should be raised all the way up when running straight down wind.

Please contact us if you have any questions about this tuning guide or Lido 14 Sails.

Good Luck!