Light Air

Many helms believe that light winds are boring and offer no challenges. I'm sure that most sailors who excel in light airs have been told by their larger compatriots that light wind sailing is not 'real sailing' and to 'just wait until the breeze comes up'. Granted, greater physical fitness is required to get a International Moth around a race course in a force 5, but it is still imperative in light airs. Concentration is probably even more important. An analogy I have used in the past to explain how unstable a modern Moth is that it is similar to riding a bicycle, once you have some momentum it is easier to balance. A fair hull and foils and easily adjustable systems is more important in light airs.

Generally, slackness is the key to light air success. The rig tension should be slack to aid mast bend and rotation. Make sure that the rig has only a small amount of rake. The battens should be as flexible as is practical. All of you control lines should be relatively slack on all points of sailing, especially with pocket luff sails because they tend to hold their shape more than bolt rope sails and take longer to slacken off along the luff.