Mast rake
Starting mast rake: 13' 4". This is a recommended starting point, not a fixed setting for all conditions. Record rake using consistent masthead and transom reference points and keep the measurement method with the result.
NAPLES SABOT / SAILING SUPPORT
sabotage
Tuning Guide
Recommended starting points for your boat and rig, evolving with sailing feedback.
SCANNED THE SAIL? START HERE.
sabotage tuning guide
01 / BOAT + RIG SETUP
Build a repeatable baseline.
Spar condition & bend
Record maker, model, material, age, permanent set, and visible damage. Compare bend data only when the loading and measurement methods match.
Spar-specific note coming soonLeeboard setup / position
In light to medium breeze up to about 10 knots, rake the leeboard forward and progressively reduce forward rake as wind increases. At approximately 10 knots, the leading edge should be vertical. Around 12–14 knots, begin raking aft if excessive rudder helm pressure develops. Above 14 knots, continue adjusting aft as needed for balanced helm. These wind-speed thresholds are approximate: helm balance is the practical indicator. Check attachment, movement, and repeatable position marks.
Hull & blades
Inspect hull, rudder, and leeboard surfaces and record condition before attributing a speed difference to sail trim.
Control-line reference marks
Give each control a repeatable reference and record the same datum each session. Photograph the setup and note any changes to the purchase or attachment.
Initial RSD baseline coming after sea trialsBoom position / visual checks
Photograph boom height and lateral position with the sail trimmed in a documented condition. Keep the viewpoint consistent between tests.
Initial RSD baseline coming after sea trialsSailor weight & fore-aft position
Record sailor weight and seating position alongside heel, bow immersion, and stern wake. Separate body-position changes from sail-control changes.
Development range being validatedTHE RSD DIFFERENCE
Read the spar and the sail together.
Stiffness is only part of the picture. Where a spar bends matters as well as how much it bends. A useful comparison ties the bend profile to the sail version, loading method, and on-water conditions.
Luff curve and depth work together. Luff curve is the curvature built into the sail’s leading edge. When mast bend takes up that curvature, the flying sail changes. A spar bending beyond the intended range can take out depth earlier than desired; a different profile can leave depth in places the controls do not readily address.
Leech tension also affects the rig. Sheet and vang adjustments change leech loading and can change spar bend, so a control move may affect both twist and depth. Downhaul and outhaul changes should be observed in that complete shape, rather than treated as isolated numbers.
Height needs pace. A useful pointing gain is one the boat can sustain with speed. Compare acceleration after a lull or tack, lane-holding, and helm pressure. Rake, board position, heel, and fore-aft body position belong in the same record as sail trim.
Spar-specific note coming soon02 / UPWIND TRIM
Find the balance between height and drive.
Use the five wind ranges below as starting points. Sailor weight, waves, and spar response can move the transition. Mainsheet cues refer to the top leech telltale; outhaul measurements are inches from the boom. Keep mast rake at the recommended starting point rather than treating the wind bands as prescribed rake changes.
Superlight / 0–4 knots
- Mast rake
- 13' 4" starting point
- Leeboard position
- Rake forward.
- Mainsheet (top leech telltale)
- always flying
- Outhaul (inches from boom)
- 6"
- Cunningham
- none
- Vang
- none
Light / 4–8 knots
- Mast rake
- 13' 4" starting point
- Leeboard position
- Rake forward; progressively reduce forward rake as wind increases.
- Mainsheet (top leech telltale)
- always flying
- Outhaul (inches from boom)
- 5"
- Cunningham
- none
- Vang
- none
Medium / 8–12 knots
- Mast rake
- 13' 4" starting point
- Leeboard position
- Reduce forward rake to a vertical leading edge at approximately 10 knots.
- Mainsheet (top leech telltale)
- stalling 30%
- Outhaul (inches from boom)
- 5"
- Cunningham
- remove half of the wrinkles
- Vang
- none
Medium+ / 12–16 knots
- Mast rake
- 13' 4" starting point
- Leeboard position
- Begin raking aft as helm pressure builds around 12–14 knots; above 14 knots, adjust aft as needed for balanced helm.
- Mainsheet (top leech telltale)
- stalling in lulls 30%
- Outhaul (inches from boom)
- 4"
- Cunningham
- remove 3/4 of the wrinkles
- Vang
- just tensioned
Heavy / 16+ knots
- Mast rake
- 13' 4" starting point
- Leeboard position
- Continue adjusting aft as needed for balanced helm.
- Mainsheet (top leech telltale)
- always flying
- Outhaul (inches from boom)
- 2"
- Cunningham
- remove all wrinkles
- Vang
- vang sheeting
03 / DOWNWIND TRIM
Keep drive, balance, and steering together.
Record the sailing angle with the controls. A board change that reduces drag also deserves a handling check before the next head-up or gybe.
Light air
- Mainsheet / boom angle
- Record boom angle relative to the course and apparent wind.Development range being validated
- Vang
- Observe upper-batten twist and response in soft pressure.Development range being validated
- Outhaul
- Compare lower-sail depth with momentum.Development range being validated
- Downhaul
- Compare released upwind tension with the resulting luff and draft.Development range being validated
- Leeboard position
- Compare drag reduction with steering authority at recorded depths.Development range being validated
- Heel / stability
- Choose a repeatable, comfortable balance before trying heel changes.Development range being validated
- Maneuverability
- Check that the boat can head up and gybe predictably.Development range being validated
- Target leech / batten behavior
- Watch whether the upper sail remains responsive instead of closing or collapsing.Development range being validated
Medium air
- Mainsheet / boom angle
- Compare drive at recorded boom angles; keep course changes separate.Development range being validated
- Vang
- Test leech control against upper-sail response.Development range being validated
- Outhaul
- Record shape after changing from upwind trim.Development range being validated
- Downhaul
- Record tension rather than leaving the upwind setting unexamined.Development range being validated
- Leeboard position
- Record depth and angle with handling during turns.Development range being validated
- Heel / stability
- Keep balance consistent while testing controls.Development range being validated
- Maneuverability
- Confirm reliable steering before making further board changes.Development range being validated
- Target leech / batten behavior
- Compare upper-batten orientation with pace and steadiness.Development range being validated
Heavy air
- Mainsheet / boom angle
- Test boom position together with control and steadiness.Development range being validated
- Vang
- Track twist and stability; avoid judging tension from line feel alone.Development range being validated
- Outhaul
- Compare depth with handling in waves and gusts.Development range being validated
- Downhaul
- Observe luff shape and avoid assuming the upwind setting belongs downwind.Development range being validated
- Leeboard position
- Prioritize usable steering when evaluating board position.Development range being validated
- Heel / stability
- Start from controllable heel and body position; record conditions.Development range being validated
- Maneuverability
- Keep enough control to steer, head up, and gybe as needed.Development range being validated
- Target leech / batten behavior
- Watch for unstable twist or a leech that remains excessively closed.Development range being validated
04 / QUICK-REFERENCE MATRICES
A dockside reminder. Recommended starting points.
The upwind matrix reflects the tuning guide V1 worksheet, with updated mast-rake and leeboard recommendations. Leeboard transitions are approximate: reduce forward rake toward a vertical leading edge around 10 knots, then begin aft rake as helm builds around 12–14 knots. Above 14 knots, adjust aft as needed. On a narrow screen, swipe across the tables to compare conditions. The separate downwind matrix remains provisional.
| CONTROL | Superlight / 0–4 knots | Light / 4–8 knots | Medium / 8–12 knots | Medium+ / 12–16 knots | Heavy / 16+ knots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mast rake | 13' 4" starting point | 13' 4" starting point | 13' 4" starting point | 13' 4" starting point | 13' 4" starting point |
| Leeboard position | Rake forward. | Rake forward; progressively reduce forward rake as wind increases. | Reduce forward rake to a vertical leading edge at approximately 10 knots. | Begin raking aft as helm pressure builds around 12–14 knots; above 14 knots, adjust aft as needed for balanced helm. | Continue adjusting aft as needed for balanced helm. |
| Mainsheet (top leech telltale) | always flying | always flying | stalling 30% | stalling in lulls 30% | always flying |
| Outhaul (inches from boom) | 6" | 5" | 5" | 4" | 2" |
| Cunningham | none | none | remove half of the wrinkles | remove 3/4 of the wrinkles | remove all wrinkles |
| Vang | none | none | none | just tensioned | vang sheeting |
| CONTROL | LIGHT | MEDIUM | HEAVY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outhaul | Compare lower-sail depth with momentum.Development range being validated | Record shape after changing from upwind trim.Development range being validated | Compare depth with handling in waves and gusts.Development range being validated |
| Downhaul / Cunningham | Compare released upwind tension with the resulting luff and draft.Development range being validated | Record tension rather than leaving the upwind setting unexamined.Development range being validated | Observe luff shape and avoid assuming the upwind setting belongs downwind.Development range being validated |
| Mainsheet | Record boom angle relative to the course and apparent wind.Development range being validated | Compare drive at recorded boom angles; keep course changes separate.Development range being validated | Test boom position together with control and steadiness.Development range being validated |
| Vang | Observe upper-batten twist and response in soft pressure.Development range being validated | Test leech control against upper-sail response.Development range being validated | Track twist and stability; avoid judging tension from line feel alone.Development range being validated |
| Leeboard | Compare drag reduction with steering authority at recorded depths.Development range being validated | Record depth and angle with handling during turns.Development range being validated | Prioritize usable steering when evaluating board position.Development range being validated |
| Mast / spar note | Compare shape with the recorded bend profile.Spar-specific note coming soon | Compare shape with the recorded bend profile.Spar-specific note coming soon | Compare shape with the recorded bend profile.Spar-specific note coming soon |
| Sail-shape cue | Watch whether the upper sail remains responsive instead of closing or collapsing.Development range being validated | Compare upper-batten orientation with pace and steadiness.Development range being validated | Watch for unstable twist or a leech that remains excessively closed.Development range being validated |
FEEL → CHECK → COMPARE
Diagnose before changing everything.
These are checks to investigate, not guaranteed explanations. Change one variable and compare again.
If the boat points but feels slow
Check whether the sail is too flat, the leech is too tight, or the rig is too far forward. Compare a small trim change at the same course before using extra height as evidence of speed.
If the boat feels powerful but will not hold a lane
Check mast rake, leech tension, and whether the sail is too deep. Record heel and leeboard position as well, so a balance problem is not mistaken for a sail-only problem.
If the sail goes flat too early in breeze
Consider whether the spar is bending beyond the sail’s intended luff-curve range. Compare shape photos, sail version, and control loading with the measured bend profile.
If the boat feels overpowered
Depower in sequence rather than simply dumping mainsheet. First check balance and body position, then review lower-sail depth, luff tension, and leech / twist control one at a time. Recheck drive and helm after each adjustment; the final RSD sequence remains under validation.
Help refine the next baseline.
Send your sail version, spar details, sailor weight, conditions, control references, shape photos, and notes on pace and feel. Include the comparison sail and measurement method where available.
Share development feedback with RSD →PRODUCT & SUPPORT
Return to sabotage.
Review the sail’s design approach, construction features, current development status, and ordering information.