Balance and Heel

Control power with trim and heading to keep foils efficient.
Speed Control

Overview

Excess heel increases leeway and drag. Keep the boat flatter by easing in puffs and coordinating steering.

Objectives

  • Maintain moderate heel.
  • Use quick ease-trim cycles.
  • Coordinate steering with power changes.

Key Concepts

  • Depower in puffs
  • Power-up in lulls
  • Flatter foils = better lift

Drills

  1. Ease at heel spikes, then re-trim.
  2. Hold target heel on both tacks/gybes.
  3. Stabilize heel before optimizing.

Common Mistakes

  • Locked sheets.
  • Over-correcting helm.
  • Ignoring heel downwind.
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