North Sails One Design

Tips on Making the Flying Scot Fly

Article by Greg Fisher
North Sails One Design Chesapeake

Sail the boat flat in light winds.
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Sail the Scot Flat! Even in light winds more than 10 degrees of heel is too much!

Upwind, the Flying Scot needs to be sailed flat so that helm (the “feel” or tug on the tiller) is nearly neutral. In breeze above 5 mph, the boat should be heeled no more than 8-10 degrees. In light winds under 5, although the helm won’t feel as “loaded” when the boat is heeled excessively, the windward helm will become severe. Excessive windward helm (when the boat wants to firmly turn up into the wind) will create rudder drag and the boat will sail slower. In all conditions, upwind and down, heel the boat (when the sails are trimmed properly) so that there is virtually no tug on the tiller.the rudder should follow right behind the boat.

Play your mainsheet constantly to maintain a balanced helm.

Since the rudder blade is a straight aluminum plate, it will stall easily if it turned too sharply or the helm becomes too severe. Even when it comes to turning, a gentle, slow, smooth touch will help keep the speed up and the drag down. Constant adjustment to the mainsheet in and out in reaction to the puffs and waves is really helpful to maintain the neutral, balanced helm. Some skippers will even remove the mainsheet from the cleat to make it easier to consistently adjust the sheet!

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