Mast rake for optimal performance

I can't lay my hands on my copy of the 18 performance manual. Can anyone give me input on mast rake for the 18. I have the mast raked back to the third sidestay adjuster hole from the bottom and the forestay all the way out currently. Previously ran at the fourth hole up and forestay just out the bottom of the furler. Feels slower to weather with the mast back. Confused? The 16s rake way back for more power to weather, I thought. I believe forward rake on the 18 gives more power downwind which I don't necessarily need with a spinnaker. I'm almost certain the boat is slower the way it is currently set but not sure. Had a hard time catching and passing a 16 this past weekend. I used to blow that guys doors off. He's gotten better at sailing but not that much. Downwind I left him on the horizon. Help me understand the rake thing?

We raced ours at 295 pounds and found the farther down we could jamb the adjuster in the furler the faster we went (no rake). Didn't get all crazy on the prebend either.

Don't have an explaination other than the the sail seems to like to be flat, i.e. downhaul negates need for rake?

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Found the book. Rake forward to power up and back to depower. Thats what I thought was happening. Will have to reset spin pole height and bring rake forward. The info in the book seemed to contradict itself. Anyone else noticed this? The book I'm referring to is The 18 Performance Manual by Phil Berman. Great info on shroud tension, diamonds, sail shape etc. Seemed in the 3 w's area that crew weight and settings were confused. Maybe its just me.

Nope, you're exactly right. What a plethora of information

We used his shroud recomendations, diamonds barely loose on the lee side (check on the water). Agreed on his explanation of the sail shape. Keeping it flat and 8:1 cascading dowhaul (after double trapped) we found more effective than raking back. RPM's

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

rake forward... more power on 18. Rake back on 16 creates additional rudder and hull lift (due to its asymmetric hulls) that couters the decreas in power

Bro, with the completely different sail package and stick you're running, a standard Hobie 18 performance manual isn't gonna do squat for you in regard to rake, prebend, etc. You might get some value out of dagger and rudder stuff, but that's about it.

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Trey Brown
www.velocitysailing.com
2006 N20 1017
1998 H16 102698
www.sunjammers.com ftw!