North
Sails Santana 20 Tuning Guide
TUNING AT THE DOCKS
Rake Setting: 51"
Once the mast is up, attach your jib or spinnaker halyard to the
tack and tighten. Disconnect the forestay and bring back to the
mast. Pull the forestay tight along the front of the mast and with a
black marker, make a mark on the forestay at the location of the
bottom of the black band. This should be 22" above the bottom of the
mast. Mark the 22" spot on the mast if your band isn't in the right
place. Re-connect the forestay, apply enough backstay tension to
straighten the forestay and measure from the black mark to the
center of the forestay pin.
If you are sailing really light on crew weight, and the breeze is up
you might want to go around 50"
Why do it this way? Because it's the most accurate way and the
measurement is the same for new and old style decks.
Next, make sure the top of the mast is centered in the boat. To
do this place a pencil mark on the port and starboard rails at
equidistant aft of the tack fitting at about 10" forward of the
shrouds. Make sure your lower shrouds and aft lower shrouds are
loose. With the upper shrouds hand tight hoist a tape measure on the
Genoa halyard and measure from the
Genoa
halyard block to the pencil marks. Keep measuring side to side and
tightening or loosening the upper shrouds until the tip is centered.
Hand tension each forward lower until they are evenly tensioned.
Sight up the mast track on the aft side of the mast to see if it's
straight from side to side. You'll find it helpful to take the main
halyard and hold it stretched tight centered just above the
gooseneck in the mainsail track. Use the wire as a straight-line
reference with the track. Tighten or loosen the forward lower
shrouds until the middle of the mast is in column with the mast tip.
We recommend investing in a Loos Tension Gauge Model PT-1. This
gauge can hang on the shroud as it is adjusted and won't stretch out
like the Model A gauge.
Using the tension gauge adjust the upper shrouds to the base setting
of 25 and the lower shroud to 20. Once the mast is centered it is
important to take the same amount of turns on the port and starboard
shrouds while adjusting tension in order to keep the mast centered.
If the port and starboard spreader tips are at different heights
above the deck, the mast will not be straight side to side or the
shrouds will have different tension from the port side compared to
the starboard side.
The aft lowers should be attached to an adjustable track, because
adjustment of these throughout the race is essential. First make
sure the backstay is released. If they are attached to a track make
sure they are evenly set and when trimmed to maximum tension they
invert the mast by at least 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 ".
Santana 20 Rig Settings
|
Apparent Wind |
|
Uppers |
Lowers |
|
0-5 |
|
-1* |
-1* |
|
5-10 |
|
-1/2* |
-1/2* |
|
10-12 |
Base setting |
25 |
20 |
|
12-15 |
|
+1 1/2* |
+2* |
|
15-20 |
Genoa |
+2* |
+2 1/2* |
|
15-20 |
Jib |
Base |
+2* |
|
20-25 |
Jib |
+2* |
+2 1/2* |
* Denotes one full turn of the turnbuckle barrel using standard open
body turnbuckles.
Set up the rig at the base setting before you leave the dock,
adjust the rig as conditions change but remember to keep track of
any changes. Just to make sure there is no confusion, all the
changes reflect turns on or off from the base setting - not from the
previous setting. Also, mark your deck with an arrow and a 'T' for
the tightening direction and replace any cotter rings/pins with
turnbuckle nuts - they're much easier to adjust!
UPWIND TRIM
Light Air (0-5 Knots):
In these conditions keeping the boat moving fast and not worrying
about pointing makes bigger gains around the racetrack. Therefore
set the boat up to maximize boat speed instead of pointing ability.
The
golden rule in all conditions is "If you want to point you have to
be going fast first!". In light air set your sails up for maximum
power.
Main
First set the aft lowers at a position so the mast is perfectly
straight yet there is enough tension that when the backstay is
pulled the mast will not bend down low. Get in a habit of sighting
up the backside of the mast to see how the mast is bending. Next,
sheet in the main sheet so that the top batten cups slightly to
windward. Now pull the backstay until the top of the mast bends
enough to allow the top batten to twist to leeward so that it is
parallel with the boom. Make sure the telltale on the top batten is
not stalled. The small amount of backstay tension will provide the
correct amount of headstay sag. The boom vang should be eased all
the way and the traveler pulled to weather enough so the lower
battens are just to leeward of the backstay. The outhaul should be
1-2" from maximum. The more chop there is, the looser the outhaul
should be set. The cunningham should be pulled on just enough to
remove major wrinkles from the luff.
Genoa
Tension the genoa halyard enough to remove the luff wrinkles.
This will pull the draft forward and open the leech of the sail.
With the draft forward the boat will be easier to steer. The open
leech will help air flow across the sail without stalling. The foot
of the genoa should be 3-4" from the shroud turnbuckle, and the
leech should be 2-3" from the spreader tip. Make sure the leech
lines are eased.
Remember
in these conditions keep your head out of the boat and sail towards
better wind velocity on the course.
Light to Medium Air (6-12 Knots):
These conditions call for a good amount of power as well as the
ability to point.
Main
The aft lowers should be set at their medium position which puts
1" - 1 ¾" inverse bend into the lower section of the mast. Determine
the medium air backstay setting by using the same technique as
described for light air. The traveler should be pulled to weather
with the boom on centerline to help the boat point, but eased to
leeward if too much weather helm is felt or if the boat starts to
heel too much.
The outhaul should be eased ½" from the maximum position. The
cunningham should be pulled tight enough to remove all wrinkles from
the luff. The boom vang should be pulled in just enough to snug up
the line (preset for downwind). Start with the main sheet set with
the top batten parallel to the boom. If your boat speed is good and
you want to point higher, try pulling harder on the mainsheet and
stall the top batten telltale 50-80% of the time. Beware, if your
speed starts dropping off ease the mainsheet.
Genoa
Set the halyard so some wrinkles show in the luff of the genoa.
This will flatten the genoa entry and move the draft aft in the
sail, allowing for more power and higher pointing. Set the leads so
the foot is 1" - 2" from the shroud turnbuckle and the leech is 2-3"
from the spreader tip.
Medium to Heavy Air (13-18 Knots):
Once the wind has reached this level, it is time to start
thinking about de-powering the sails to keep the boat from healing
too much.
Main
The aft lowers should be set tighter with 3 ¼" - 3 ½" of inverse
bend. This allows more backstay to be pulled on letting the top of
the main twist to leeward, while at the same time placing more
tension on the forestay which improves pointing and flattens the
genoa. In order to determine backstay tension, pull the main sheet
in enough so that the top batten twists to windward even while the
backstay is at it's medium setting. Then pull just enough backstay
to let the top batten twist to leeward about 15 degrees. The
cunningham should be pulled tight enough to remove all wrinkles from
the luff. The boom vang should be tightened enough to hold the boom
down at its sheeted height even without mainsheet tension. The
outhaul should be at its maximum position.
Genoa
These conditions are at the upper wind range for the genoa. The
decision to switch to the small jib will depend on crew weight,
consistency of the wind and waves. Choose the size of your headsail
based on the strength of the wind during the lulls. The larger the
waves the larger a headsail needed to power through them. If the
Genoa is used tighten the halyard to move the draft forward and open
the leech. Set the leads so the foot is against the shroud
turnbuckle and the leech is 4" - 5" from the spreader tip. To
de-power twist the Genoa by easing the sheet 1" - 2".
Remember
the tighter the aft-lowers and backstay are, the tighter the
forestay is and therefore the flatter the Genoa.
Jib
The crossover to using the class jib can be found in this wind
range. Lighter crews, or sailing in flatter water can allow you to
go to the small jib and still be fast.
Keep the leads forward and don't strap the jib in! The S-20 likes to
be rolled up to speed and a strapped headsail won't get you there!
We also recommend a 2:1 jib sheet system. The sheet should be
dead-ended at the jib car, go through the jib clew, through the jib
block then back to the Genoa ratchet and up to the weather side.
This makes adjustments to the jib easy while trimming from the high
side.
Note:
The 13-18 knot range of apparent wind can really separate the fleet.
Make sure the boat is tuned for the conditions and the headsail. The
key is to keep the boat moving fast and pointing high, you should
roll the boat up to speed and keep the weather tell tales at about
45 degrees for maximum VMG to weather.
Heavy Air (19+ Knots):
In these conditions the sails need to be flattened as much as
possible and set up so the boat is as easy as possible to steer.
Main
Pull the aft lowers on to their maximum setting of 4" of inverse
bend. Tension the backstay in the same manner as in the 13-18 knot
conditions, except that 20 degrees of twist is desired. Begin vang
sheeting by pulling the boom vang on hard, which bends the lower
section of the mast thereby flattening the lower part of the main.
The cunningham should be pulled in enough to remove all wrinkles and
move the draft forward. Set the outhaul at its maximum setting. Let
the traveler all the way down to the edge of the cockpit.
If the boat is still overpowered with the top batten inverted and
the main flogging it's time to go into super twist mode. Pull the
traveler all the way up past centerline and ease the mainsheet so
the boom is on centerline. Keep the aft lowers, backstay and vang
snug. The outhaul can be eased ½" for power in the lower section of
the main.
Jib
The jib should be sheeted to tracks mounted on the round cabin
top inside of the shrouds. The track should have a sheeting angle of
11° off centerline. To find this angle measure horizontally 19 ½"
outboard from centerline behind the mast. This is where the jib
track should be installed.
Pull the jib halyard tight enough to remove the wrinkles in the
luff. Set the jib so the top tell-tales break slightly before the
lower tell-tales. If the boat need a little bit more power, move the
jib lead forward to give the bottom of the sail some depth and sheet
the sail so the leech is pointing straight aft. To de-power move the
lead aft to flatten the bottom of the sail and twist the top off.
The
main and headsail need to work together. If the genoa or jib is
twisting off at the top, so should the main. If the genoa or jib is
sheeted hard, so should the main. When the wind is blowing hard,
adding twist to the main and jib will help give the boat a larger
groove to steer in.
|
Aft Lowers |
|
Wind Speed (Knots) |
0-5 |
6-12 |
13-18 |
19+ |
|
Inches of inverse bend |
Tensioned yet straight mast |
1 - 1 3/4" |
3 - 3 1/2" |
4" |
|
Outhaul |
|
Wind Speed (Knots) |
0-5 |
6-12 |
13-18 |
19+ |
|
From black band |
1-2" |
1/2" |
Max |
Max |
|
Genoa Trimming Guide |
|
Wind Speed (Knots) |
0-5 |
6-12 |
13-18 |
19+ |
|
Sail from spreader tip |
2-3" |
2-3" |
4-5" |
6" |
|
Foot from turnbuckle |
3-4" |
1-2" |
against |
against |
|
Luff Tension |
smooth |
slight wrinkle |
slight wrinkle--> smooth |
smooth |
|
Leech Line |
just tight enough to prevent flutter |
DOWNWIND AND REACHES MAIN TRIM
Run
Downwind the main should be set at its fullest settings. The
backstay should be eased. The jib halyard should be attached to the
jib tack hook and tightened. This allows the mast to remain forward
and stable at all times. In breeze over 15 knots it is a good idea
to keep the backstay tensioned a little to prevent total mast
inversion. The aft lowers should be released all the way immediately
after the weather rounding. The outhaul should be 2" from maximum
tension. The cunningham is always eased all the way on a run. Boom
vang should be set so the top batten is parallel with the boom.
Reach
While reaching the main should be powered up most of the time.
The backstay should be eased, aft lowers off, cunningham loose and
outhaul eased. A little bit of twist in the top of the main is okay.
Make sure the top telltale is not stalled. Once the boat starts to
be overpowered on the reach it is time to depower the main. Pull the
backstay on a little to keep the mast in column. Ease the vang to
allow the top of the sail to twist off. Pull the cunningham on to
open the leech of the main. Tighten the outhaul.
SPINNAKER TRIM
North's full radial spinnaker likes to be flown with the
spinnaker pole lower to project more area. A good starting point is
for the pole to be connected at the mast 44 ½" up from the deck. The
pole should be flown parallel with the horizon. The halyard should
be raised as high as it will go to increase projected area and
stabilize the sail. When running, square the pole so it is
perpendicular to the apparent wind and make sure the sheet does not
go past the headstay.
The trimmer should keep a slight curl in the luff of the sail.
Remember that an under trimmed spinnaker is much faster than an over
trimmed and stalled spinnaker. Spinnaker trim needs to be constantly
adjusted due to the changes in apparent wind caused by velocity
changes, steering, waves and changes in boat speed. To help the boat
accelerate faster be ready to ease the sheet 5" - 12" when a puff
hits. The ease of the sheet will move the driving force of the sail
forward instead of healing the boat to leeward. Never let the pole
rest on the headstay; it should always be at least 2-3' aft of the
headstay.
When running, concentrate on steering your optimum down wind
angle. Good drivers are sensitive to small changes in boat speed.
When the boat is going slow, head up a little to increase boat
speed. If the boat is moving fast or in a puff, bear off to ride the
puff longer and use your extra boat speed to sail lower. Good
communication between helmsman and trimmer is important.
Make
sure one of the team (not the spinnaker trimmer) is constantly
watching for puffs and velocity downwind.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about your new
Santana 20 sails, we will be glad to discuss them with you.
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