SabresfortheCup wrote:
tighter for light wind/heavy waves/heavy crew - more shape & power
looser for heavy wind/calm seas/lightweight crew - less shape & power, more speed
Let's think about that......
Tight for more shape? I don't think so.
Tight would prevent the mast from bending on the minor and you would have less shape and have the ability to flatten the sail out more with down haul. Flat = more efficient sail and less drag through the air as winds pick up........but, as winds tend to over power the boat, only a little bend in you mast can come from the down haul (little on the 18 on the Major access) and alternative methods of depowering have to be looked at (Mast rotator, Traveler, sheet...in that order).
Loose for less shape? I don't think so.
Loose will cause the mast to bend on the minor axis (Sideways) and make the sail appear to be fuller and create more drag (less efficient) and slows the boat, but the increased shape may keep more power for waves.
In my humble opinion, When you loosen the diamond wires, you leave speed on the beach before you enter the race. I really prefer to depower my boat other ways without using the mast. Maybe if I KNOW it's going to be over 20 Knots I would consider loosing the wires but only in extreme situations. But even then, for me to take the time to loosen the diamond wires, I would have to be chasing someone really important (Sohn, Marshack, etc. etc.)
Foot note: I destroyed a new sail (Main) in the 2014 Hobie NACs by over using the down haul. The luff of a dacron sail just can't take that much pressure. Was it worth it? As far as I am concerned, in big events, bring it all and leave it there........ Yes.