How to effectively trim your sails upwind | INSPIRE & LEARN BASICS

In this blog, we will look at how to trim your sails when sailing upwind. Sailing upwind is classified as sailing at any angle lower than 90 degrees to the wind. Sailing directly into the wind is not possible; therefore, to sail in the direction of the wind, you must continuously tack in a zig zagging motion.
The most efficient way to trim your sails when tacking upwind is to have them close hauled. This means pulling them as close to the centerline of the boat as possible. This will allow you to point higher and therefore get to your destination faster.
Whether you are pointing 90 degrees or 45 degrees to the wind, this blog will be helpful in demonstrating how to use your vessel’s instruments to improve the trim and get the most speed out of your boat.
This video and blog demonstrations were produced onboard a Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran but can be used on any sailing vessel.
READ BLOG... tmgyachts.com/how-to-trim-upw...

[@georgeorta]

Nicely done and very useful explanation. On the 42's I've found that moving the main car is also important to get the optimal twist in the main. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. It is a nice resource.

[@TMGYachts]

Good point, thanks for your kind feedback we are glad you enjoyed the video.

[@SV_Freeman]

Thanks Joe, you always explain it so nicely. Your videos are very helpful

[@dontraeger4325]

Great video. We are sailing a Lagoon 450 so we appreciate these how-to videos. Please consider a how-to video for wing on wing sailing. Thank you

[@TMGYachts]

Thanks for your request. We don't typically advise wing on wing sailing however the next video will give our recommendations for downwind trimming.

[@joachim6370]

great job

[@TMGYachts]

Thank you.

[@auderioual5725]

Thank you for your videos and explanations. This is from far the best sailing videos I have ever watched. Keep going mate, you’re doing the job very nicely. Clear and nice to watch.

[@peaceranger7215]

Is that a new rigging set up for the jib sheet?

[@JoeFox_TMGYachts]

Depends on the design of the vessel. Some have a mast further aft allowing for a self tacking jib. Others mast forward with a more traditional sheeting system for the jib. The self tacking headsail is something we've only seen on cruising boats in the last 20 years or so.

[@peaceranger7215]

@@JoeFox_TMGYachts our 42 (‘23) has the jib sheet running from a stopper at one end of the jib car rail to the the jib car, to the sail, back to the jib car and then to the other end of the rail, then back to the bottom of the mast and throughly the cleats. Your setup seems cleaner, although couldn’t see how the jib sheet goes back to the mast

[@JoeFox_TMGYachts]

@@peaceranger7215 Ah yes, your set up is actually a newer design, this setup above is from a 2021 model. Yours is an easier to manage and replace setup that doesn't run inside the mast.

[@peaceranger7215]

@@JoeFox_TMGYachts thanks for responding - please keep up the good work these tutorials are the only ones in the business - everyone I bump into who has a cat has watched the whole series - especially the how to park it one 😂…. 💪🏼 great work!!!

[@kidonaboat]

Anyone interested in helping move my new(to me) 50' catamaran out of St Augustine area? I have to move it by June 1st because the dockage runs out. Want to get it up to Maine eventually but if anyone out there interested, even a leg of the trip...let me know. Anyone free for a couple weeks? Anyone? No experience needed.

[@TMGYachts]

We hope you had a great journey!

[@hbpilot70]

Sometimes it just wasn't meant to be. Was looking for something like that and I was off the whole month. Hope you had a great journey