Tips & Tricks

Here is a great guide for tuning sails that recently appeared on the yahoo Vic Forum

Re: Another Vic added to the population in need of guidance

Hi Mike,
Here are a few basic points to get you started.

Yes, the factory mast step is too far back. Most guys step their mast about 1
inch to 1+1/8 inch forward of the keel bolt. I suggest you do this before moving
on to the next point.
(Some guys may disagree with moving the step, but if you have to deal with 15mph
winds you will need the step forward. This position will not significantly
degrade performance on the light wind days......just rake back to balance it, or
build a moveable step).

Okay, now go to the pond.
Pull out your hatch cover and hold it on the fore-deck, and at the front of the
mast.
This will give you a good idea of when the mast is 90 degrees to the deck.
Adjust your forestay and backstay to get the mast perpendicular.
This is a good starting point.....you are almost ready to get wet !!

Set your jib-sheet so that the jib-boom points back to the aft shroud. This will
allow plenty of flow through between the jib and the lee-side of the mainsail.
Put enough tension on the jib-boom topping lift to put a soft curve up the back
of the jib (leech).

Set the mainsheet so that the main boom is over the deck where it creases down
to become the transom. Having the main-boom over the cockpit can be very slow
and cause a lot of weather helm.
Adjust the vang so that the main leech also has a soft curve to it.

Go sailing........ain't this fun??

Then rake forward if necessary to achieve balance.
DO NOT start de-powering yet......always adjust rake first, because there's no
point in throwing away horse-power until you need to....just move it to where it
is more useful!!
Remember this setting point for that wind strength. Pretty easy, huh??

Note, it should still round-up into the wind a little as the gusts hit.
Actually, this can be useful to help point-up a little higher and de-power until
the gust subsides.

Okay so it's quite windy and still won't balance at full forward
rake???......try this.
1, Ease the boom-vang to open up the main-sail leech to spill some wind from
that powerful upper area.
2, Tighten the main-sail outhaul to flatten the bottom of the main-sail.
3, Ease the mainsheet so that the main spills more, and is not so powerful.
I'm not a big fan of tightening the backstay. Though this is supposed to flatten
the mainsail, most boats aren't rigged with a good enough backstay/jumpers/mast
to get a good effect. All that happens is a bunch of ugly wrinkles. Use
mast-bend at your discretion.

The secret to learning this is to make a huge adjustment of one item...then
throw it back in to the pond, and note the difference.
Note, as you adjust rake, the mainsheet and jib sheet will tighten or loosen,
Reset them to where they were, so that you are seeing the effect of only one
adjustment.
Again, make the adjustments big to feel their effect. You can always tweak it
back afterwards. In time, as you get to "feel" the boat a little better, you
will be able to make more subtle adjustments, as necessary.

A final note, the Victoria is known to have a large powerful sail-plan, a round
hull and subsequently lots of weather-helm when the wind starts to blow......so
there is only so much you can do. But they are very manageable if you rake
forward and de-power that big main. Have fun. I hope this helps.