Novice sailor here, looking for advice on sail trim. (Note: I did try to search up answer to my question on the Forum search before asking this in case its a totally elementary question!) Ive been reading up on sail shape trying to learn all I can but one thing I noticed on my X as I was out at my favorite lake last week was in a Close haul in light winds with main sheet pulled all the way in the lower 80 percent of my sail is happy with wind but up at the top of the sail its actually in irons. As I look up the sail I can see the twist in it which I understand is a good thing to a point put should not my entire sail be happy?
Am I trying to go into the wind too much?
Do I have to much billowing of my sail which maybe means I need more Arch in my mast to remove some billow and or twist?
With that said, it's likely if you have the original main sail that it's stretched out. The OEM main sail was not a great quality. Mine is original and stretched and behaves similarly.
How high are you trying to point? Approximate wind speed? (because light can mean different things to different people) The X doesn’t have a traveler, so there’s only so much you can do with the main sheet - unless the boom was straight over the helm. Was your Vang tight? Light air would require minimum twist.
As Russ says, the condition of your sail is a huge factor in this. So, is it brand new?
You are correct in your thinking. If a portion of your sail is flapping in the breeze like Aunt Leena’s drawers on the clothesline, something just ain’t right.
Is your boat equipped with a traveller? Sail twist for the mainsail is determined by how much the mainsheet is pulling down on the boom. The harder, the flatter the sail, the less twist. A traveller will allow you first to adjust the twist of the sail by adjusting tension on the mainsheet, then adjust the the angle of the boom relative to the centerline of the boat using the traveller.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
Definetely has a MacGregor sail, not sure if its as old as My 2002 X , I did watch the Sail twist video that you linked and My Leech does get nice and straight so perhaps twist is the wrong term Im using , Its just that my sail seems to billow a lot. do not have a traveler its main sheet mounted on the pedestal.
Wind was approx 7 Knots and I was probably trying to head 22 degrees to windward. I dont have the original mast but my mast does seem to have the fore stay mounted a few feet lower than the rear stay on the mast so I may play with de tensioning my side stays a bit and see if I can arch the mast a bit to see if that will remove the "billow" in sail unless yall think it wont help?
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:36 am
Wind was approx 7 Knots and I was probably trying to head 22 degrees to windward. I dont have the original mast but my mast does seem to have the fore stay mounted a few feet lower than the rear stay on the mast so I may play with de tensioning my side stays a bit and see if I can arch the mast a bit to see if that will remove the "billow" in sail unless yall think it wont help?
At 7 knots wind speed and 22 deg apparent, you are probably trying to point too high on a 26X. I looked at some polars for performance boats. At 7 knots and 22 degrees apparent, they were at the tipping point where the boat stops sailing. And, the 26X is not a high performance sailboat.
For a relevant opinion, I’ll reference the following quote from Bill (BeFree) who owns one and is someone who I consider to be an authority on the subject:
How close to the wind can she honestly sail? Close enough. It's not a race boat and there are a lot of boats that can sail closer to the wind. I get my best upwind speed about 40 degrees either side of the wind. I can get get a little closer but it's more work and slows me down so I don't usually bother.
What headsail did you have up?
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:30 am
Definetely has a MacGregor sail, not sure if its as old as My 2002 X , I did watch the Sail twist video that you linked and My Leech does get nice and straight so perhaps twist is the wrong term Im using , Its just that my sail seems to billow a lot. do not have a traveler its main sheet mounted on the pedestal.
If the leech gets tight, and you’ve got good tension on the halyard, your bolt rope may have shrunk, causing the sail to be baggy.
If your sail is from 2002, it’s time for a new one. Even if it was replaced, if it’s 10 years old, it’s not going to be the original shape. Especially trying to point 22 degrees.
Get a picture of it the next time you’re out and post it so everyone can get a look.
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:36 am
… I may play with de tensioning my side stays a bit and see if I can arch the mast a bit to see if that will remove the "billow" in sail unless yall think it wont help?
Read the 26X manual regarding setup on the shrouds and stays before you do this. I would be with you on monkeying with the mast rake a tad to reduce weather helm/roundup tendency, but not sure about contorting the mast to try and flatten a baggy sail.
If there is a sailmaker in your area, take the sail to them and get their opinion on the condition of the sail. I took mine to a sailmaker to see if it was worth getting a new bolt rope put in. He said the sail was still serviceable and installed a new bolt rope for around $200. Well worth it.
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:39 am
Also my main has no Tale tells so maybe yall can advise me on best way and locations to add some?
The Rolly Tasker LiteSkin sail for my S came with 4 telltales. The top one is about 3 feet from the top, the bottom about 3 feet up, and the remaining two evenly spaced in between.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:36 am
Wind was approx 7 Knots and I was probably trying to head 22 degrees to windward. I dont have the original mast but my mast does seem to have the fore stay mounted a few feet lower than the rear stay on the mast so I may play with de tensioning my side stays a bit and see if I can arch the mast a bit to see if that will remove the "billow" in sail unless yall think it wont help?
At 7 knots wind speed and 22 deg apparent, you are probably trying to point too high on a 26X. I looked at some polars for performance boats. At 7 knots and 22 degrees apparent, they were at the tipping point where the boat stops sailing. And, the 26X is not a high performance sailboat.
For a relevant opinion, I’ll reference the following quote from Bill (BeFree) who owns one and is someone who I consider to be an authority on the subject:
How close to the wind can she honestly sail? Close enough. It's not a race boat and there are a lot of boats that can sail closer to the wind. I get my best upwind speed about 40 degrees either side of the wind. I can get get a little closer but it's more work and slows me down so I don't usually bother.
What headsail did you have up?
I don't know if I'm an authority but...
You are right about the 22 degrees. That's way beyond efficient for an X.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
FittsFly wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:36 am
Wind was approx 7 Knots and I was probably trying to head 22 degrees to windward. I dont have the original mast but my mast does seem to have the fore stay mounted a few feet lower than the rear stay on the mast so I may play with de tensioning my side stays a bit and see if I can arch the mast a bit to see if that will remove the "billow" in sail unless yall think it wont help?
At 7 knots wind speed and 22 deg apparent, you are probably trying to point too high on a 26X. I looked at some polars for performance boats. At 7 knots and 22 degrees apparent, they were at the tipping point where the boat stops sailing. And, the 26X is not a high performance sailboat.
For a relevant opinion, I’ll reference the following quote from Bill (BeFree) who owns one and is someone who I consider to be an authority on the subject:
How close to the wind can she honestly sail? Close enough. It's not a race boat and there are a lot of boats that can sail closer to the wind. I get my best upwind speed about 40 degrees either side of the wind. I can get get a little closer but it's more work and slows me down so I don't usually bother.
What headsail did you have up?
I don't know if I'm an authority but...
You are right about the 22 degrees. That's way beyond efficient for an X.
Thanks for all the advise! I would like to add Telltales and that would probable tell me a lot. Have any of yall done this? Best material to use? and locations? stickinthemud helped with the locations vertically starting from the top down but if anybody has an idea of the measurement they should be placed forward of the leach i will Sew a few in place.
Novice sailor here, looking for advice on sail trim. (Note: I did try to search up answer to my question on the Forum search before asking this in case its a totally elementary question!) Ive been reading up on sail shape trying to learn all I can but one thing I noticed on my X as I was out at my favorite lake last week was in a Close haul in light winds with main sheet pulled all the way in the lower 80 percent of my sail is happy with wind but up at the top of the sail its actually in irons. As I look up the sail I can see the twist in it which I understand is a good thing to a point put should not my entire sail be happy?
