How to Trim Sails. 3rd edition

I've written this book for all those sailors who practise sailing in its original and authentic form. For those who aren't just looking for a comfortable trip in a sailing boat, but who have a degree of sporting ambition, to sail their dinghy or yacht quickly to the next port of call, making best use of the sails and taking account of the prevailing conditions.
This manual on trimming sails should appeal most of all to skippers and bowmen who shift about nervously in the cockpit or on the side deck when another boat comes up astern and passes slowly to windward or leeward. Coastal sailors who occasionally take part in club regattas will find detailed advice in the form of 'operating instructions' for the correct basic sail trim, and tried and tested tips for tuning the rigging in changing wind and wave conditions. Real racers will also be able to look up proven trimming tricks and refinements going well beyond the basics.

Contents

WHY THIS TRIMMING PRIMER?
1 BASICS AND INTRODUCTION TO TRIMMING SAILS
2 TRIMMING CONTROLS FOR THE MAINSAIL
Main Halyard
Main Boom Kicking Strap
Luff Tensioner (Cunningham)
Clew Outhaul
Reefing
Main Sheet and Leech
Leech Line
Sail Battens
Telltales Along the Leech
The Topping Lift
The Traveller
3 TRIMMING CONTROLS FOR THE HEADSAIL
Headsail Halyard
Forestay
Sheet Leads
Barber Hauler
Telltales
The Leech Line
The Sail Foot
4 CORRECT CAMBER
5 MAST RAKE
6 WEATHER HELM-CAUSES AND CURES
7 TRIM FOR BEATING
Light Airs
Medium Strength Winds
Strong Winds

8 TRIM FOR REACHING
Light Airs
Medium Strength Winds
Strong Winds
9 TRIM FOR RUNNING
Light Airs
Medium Strength Winds
Strong Winds
10 MASTHEAD RIG
Basic Trim of the Mast
Light Airs Trim
Medium Strength Wind Trim
Strong Wind Trim
11 THE 7/8 OR FRACTIONAL RIG WITH SWEPT-BACK SPREADERS
Basic Trim of the Mast
Light Airs Trim
Medium Strength Wind Trim
Strong Wind Trim
12 THE 7/8 OR FRACTIONAL RIG WITH RUNNING BACKSTAYS
Basic Trim of the Mast
Light Airs Trim
Medium Strength Wind Trim
Strong Wind Trim
13 DINGHY RIG WITH SWEPT-BACK SPREADERS
Mast Section
Spreaders
Rig Tension
Kicking Strap
Mast Control
Mainsheet Angle of Pull
Basic Trim of the Mast
Light Airs Trim
Medium Strength Wind Trim
Strong Wind Trim
14 ORDERING A NEW MAINSAIL
15 TRIMMING TABLES
Masthead Rig - Beat
Masthead Rig - Reach
Fractional Rig with Swept-back Spreaders - Beat
Fractional Rig with Swept-back Spreaders - Reach
Fractional Rig with Running Backstays - Beat
Fractional Rig with Running Backstays - Reach
Dinghy Rig-Beat
Dinghy Rig-Reach
INDEX