Setting up my Getaway

Trying to get some work done, but all I can do is sit here and think about sailing once all this snow melts. I just got my Getaway last year and loved sailing it. Fortunately someone knowledgeable on cat sailing helped me set it up the first time. Unfortunately I neglected to note this information when I put it away for the winter.

My question is how do I set up the mast/shrouds/forestay for the best performance? I seem to remember tightening the forestay as much as possible and then each of the shrouds. But maybe I have that backwards.

Thoughts/tips/instructions are all appreciated. I'll be sure to write it down this time. Thanks!

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island
Ivory Dune
Trampolines, Spinnaker Kit, Lowrance Hook4, Vantage Seat Accessory Bags, GoPro Hero3+, RTIC SoftPak 30, WaterPORT Day Tank

Generally, it seems to me that when I have the mast more upright, I can tack better. With more rake, it seems to point higher. What do other Getaway sailors think?

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Maximum Rake.
Put tel-tales on the leech of the main to set twist.

I've tried slack shrouds and taught shrouds. Slack might be a bit faster/point higher in smooth water but are terrible in light air and waves. Taught shrouds are better all around.

The boat is more weight sensitive than you might think. Not like a 16, but it responds to weight forward on the low side in light air and weight aft when the bows bury too often. Ease sheets and keep speed up in choppy water or the boat will go sideways instead of upwind.

Tacking hints:
45° rudder angle (too far stops the boat)
Crew holds jib backwinded until after the main battens "pop" on the new tack.
Center rudders after the main pops and ease mainsheet about a foot.
Easy jib trim to hold the bow down and don't sheet hard until the boat is accelerating back to speed.

In light air the Getaway struggles to go upwind. Once the breeze is up she will almost stay with a H16 until the H16 crew is on the wire ... then wave goodbye.

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Sail More. Tinker Less. Enjoy a Hobie Day.
-2013 H16 #1`13780
-2014 Getaway w/wings,spinnaker,& trapeze

I'm still new to this so please bear with me - - When you say maximum rake, you mean the mast leaned back toward the stern/aft as much as possible, right? So it would sort of bend backward?

In terms of set up, this means I need to loosen the forestay as much as I can and then tighten each of the shrouds as much as possible, right?

Thanks!

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island
Ivory Dune
Trampolines, Spinnaker Kit, Lowrance Hook4, Vantage Seat Accessory Bags, GoPro Hero3+, RTIC SoftPak 30, WaterPORT Day Tank

The best accessory that I have purchased for my Getaway so far is this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/188087 ... UTF8&psc=1

Despite the title, I found the information in it to be still relevant, and he goes through how to setup the boat very carefully, what effect mast rake has and under what conditions.

Great. I will have to check that out. Thanks for the advice.

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2015 Hobie Tandem Island
Ivory Dune
Trampolines, Spinnaker Kit, Lowrance Hook4, Vantage Seat Accessory Bags, GoPro Hero3+, RTIC SoftPak 30, WaterPORT Day Tank