Learn to Sail Video - How to Adjust a Mainsail in Three Easy Steps!

Do you know the three secret controls that will shape your mainsail for powerful performance and speed? Watch this insider's video for these little-known techniques.

How to Adjust the Mainsail in Three Easy Steps

1. Keep tension on the luff of the mainsail so that draft stays forward. Use the halyard or Cunningham for this adjustment.

2. On reaches, the boom tends to lift up. This destroys the shape of the leech. Set the boom vang to keep the boom horizontal, the leech under control, and the boat on her feet.

3. In gusty or heavy weather sailing winds, move the traveler down the track to leeward (downwind) to decrease heeling and weather helm.