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Eight Keys to Successful J/70 Jib Trim

A lot of conversations we have with J/70 owners boil down to two things: more speed and easier set-up. With that in mind, we put toghether some keys to successful jib trim. Following are eight tips that will help any team get more speed while streamlining set-up.

It's all about the trim - Family Truckster nails their jib trim at the 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week. Photo by Sara Proctor.

1. Have marks on your sheets and deck for repeatable trim settings. This is crucial so that you can go back to where you were time and time again.

2. Communicate frequently with your helmsman regarding current mode: Speed-build mode, height mode, etc. This will require a different set up and trim, but is easier to do if you are both on the same page.

3. Mark your spreaders for reference on jib leech settings. This gives the helmsman a good visual from the rail to repeat settings.

4. This goes without saying, but always keep the leech telltales flowing, especially in the lighter air. Once up to speed, trim as tight as you can without stalling. The more consistant you are with stearing and trimming, the faster you will be.

5. Ideal set-up is the top slightly open, mid-batten parallel to boat and lower batten slightly hooked.

6. A good guide for the jib car is when the sheet is coming off the clew at 45 degrees off the car. Be aggressive with your settings. If you want to inhaul more, you will need to move the lead aft. No inhauling, lead forward.

7. Constantly adjust the halyard to have just a hint of wrinkles along the luff. When pressure comes, do not be shy of pulling halyard on.

8. In a recent regatta, we only inhauled a maximum of one inch. We had the lead more forward with tighter sheet tension, which gave the helmsman a wider groove to drive. This is important for down-speed maneuvers and coming off the start line.

Click here for more information on the J/70 class, including the current tuning guide and quick tune chart.

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The Discussion

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