File - Canadian Wayfarer Association

Heavy weather gybing at the Worlds was not a problem providing I didn’t think about it but just
did it. Because Simon is so strong the boom went across and the spinnaker pole was changed over
no matter what happened at the back of the boat. Although we are heavy and can suffer on
medium weather runs as a result, there are so many things going for sailing with Simon that I
just get on with sailing in the conditions. In fact, the Wayfarer is such a good weight-carrier
that we get away with it mostly... I think that many boats are sailing much lighter than I would
want to.
When beating in a breeze, we sit further aft than most sailors. Simon has to sit diagonally with
his legs in front of the thwart but most of his torso behind it. This is especially important
because in getting closer to me, he reckons that I can lean on him and at the same time stay
drier.
4.2 Stuart Rix as '95 Worlds winner; sailing,.a game of
mistakes 44
1995 Wayfarer World Champion, Stuart Rix, shares his sailing philosophy and techniques
It was drummed into me a long time ago that the crew who made the least mistakes inevitably
won. Sailing is such a complicated sport of many variables: not only is the boat, the rig, the sails
and all the tuning involved, but the water, the waves, the tide, and - as if that is not complicated
enough - you also have you, the sailor, with all your anxieties and superstitions, your level of
commitment and awareness. If you can get all in tune together then the chances are, due to a
confident and calm approach, it is you who will make the least mistakes, and win!
Tuning
The Wayfarer is an easy boat to sail, but a difficult boat to sail well and fast. There is plenty of
good tuning data available from both boat builder and sailmaker alike. I have included for
amusement at the end of the article, the measurements I used at the UK Nationals 1994.
The 1994 U.K. Wayfarer Nationals in Lowestoft introduced a short chop sea state, especially
with the wind in the opposite direction to the tide. For those of us brought up sailing on inland
ponds, this can take a while to adjust to. When sailing on inland water, we set up our boats with
flatter sails and tight leeches to point higher; but when there is a chop at sea to contend with, it
is more important to concentrate on boat speed through the waves than on pointing ability. To
this end, I set up my rig slightly more upright and the mast straighter to keep the boat powered
up - with the boom on the centreline, no kicker in a light/medium breeze, and the mainsail leech
set with a little twist controlled by mainsheet tension. Ease the sheet (inducing twist) when the
wind drops or the boat slows, then, when the boat picks up again or the wind strengthens,
tighten the leech again to improve pointing ability. The mainsail leech is an important tool for
achieving boat speed, and the genoa is likewise played in the same vein.
However, once both the crew are sat fully out, then I start to let the boom off the centreline
and progressively use a lot of kicker to keep the mainsail leech from twisting too much. In a
Force 5/6 45 the boom is well off the quarter of the transom and being played around this
position to keep the boat as flat as possible in any gusts, with the kicking strap (or boom vang)
on as hard as I can pull it (12:1 system). The genoa car is moved back 5 cm (2”) and the sheet
eased 2,5 cm (1”).
44
UKWA News #63/Autumn 1995
45
20-25 knots
112