The usual crew number is 4:

The weight when hiking out is a factor when sailing upwind. The rule fixes overall crew weight at 330 kg minimum to 350 maximum; this allows making up a crew of 3 to 5 people depending the weight of each individual.

Hiking out is efficient due to the ample width of the deck. It is very comfortable.

The positions on board

When the crew is 4 people, there is 1 helmsman who also controls the traveler, 1 mainsail trimmer, 1 spinnaker trimmer and jib halyard control, 1 headsail trimmer who also does the foredeck. The two forward crews control the headsail during the tacks.

The physical qualities

There aren’t any particular physical demands.  Tests were done with all types of men and women, all sizes, all weights and nobody had the least problem.  The only position which is physically more demanding is that of the spinnaker trimmer in a good breeze.  It requires someone a little stronger, possibly two people, if the conditions are extreme.

Sailing

Upwind in light wind.

Crew positioning: One crew should move forward the maximum when sailing upwind as well as downwind.

Trimming points: It is important to properly adjust the headsail halyard relative to the wind strength.

Boat trim: The boat must be flat as possible because it is extremely sensitive to the helm. It is easy to flatten out the boat, make it accelerate and point to windward. The helmsman must play the mainsail traveler in the wind gusts. The crew must be dynamic in their sail trim to adapt sail shape with wind strength and move from side to side to maintain a slight, constant as possible,  heel angle.   

Rigging trim: There aren’t any backstays on the boat but the mast carries two levels of spreaders with diagonals which allow adapting the bend of the mast to the mainsail. From there, as the wind picks up, it becomes necessary to put more tension on the rigging by tightening the stays.  These are static adjustments made by way of turnbuckles.

Upwind in a breeze

Crew positioning: placed in the middle. With adjustments made to the length of the hiking straps, the hiking position remains comfortable by fitting into the curve of the deck.

Trimming points: in a breeze downwind under spinnaker, it is important to move aft a little.

The boat is very sound, it doesn’t slip sideways at the start and the keel takes hold quickly.

On a free leg, it’s better first one to accelerate then quickly steer to a relatively low angle and afterwards luff up for a closer reach. 

Reaching

One shouldn’t insist with the spinnaker but rather go to the headsail with its optimized trimming; thanks to a short sheet system which allows a jib lead the furthest outboard possible.

Underspinnaker

The boat is very easy to steer under spinnaker

Trimming points: during the spinnaker sets, it is important to prepare in advance the spinnaker sheet in front of the turnbuckles; then the forward crew can help the material leave the spinnaker bag.

In the jibes, the crew must bring in the spinnaker sheets quickly so as to pass inside and so that the maneuver goes quickly.

Advice for dropping the spinnaker: it is much surer to drop the sail to windward so that the 60 m2 of spinnaker doesn't end up in the water.  It is only necessary a quick drive down to leeward by the helmsman along with releasing the tackline and halyard while the forward crew recuperates the sailcloth.

Specifics

Same as the jib halyard, the jib sheeting system is made up of a double-ended 2:1 and an additional tackle of 4 blocks allowing a trim of fine through course of 15 cm (purchase is 8:1). It is very easy to adjust the sheet within a few centimeters and bring back the power in instable conditions.

Boatowners, please contact directly This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it