ILCA Outhaul Calibration Markers

Whilst Jack was collecting His New Devoti ILCA we had a great chat about the ways he marks his boat with various calibration stickers. Whilst some people would not be as open to sharing this Jack has taken the time to write up why and how to used these calibration stickers.

Calibration markings are a valuable tool for optimizing boat setup and speed. Using these markings as a reference, you can note and replicate the optimal control settings for different sailing conditions. This allows you to save precious time when adjusting controls during a race and maximize your boat's speed around each mark and along the racecourse.

Having the right rig setup is crucial for each situation around the race course and using an accepted method for calibrating your outhaul can provide several advantages. It ensures consistency and accuracy in your boat setup, allowing you to fine-tune and optimize your performance. This calibration method for the ILCA dinghy has been adopted by sailing team squad sailors proving it is an effective and reliable tool to refine your boat setup and improve your overall performance on the water.

It is a very effective approach, using the same calibration system as other sailors and experimenting with different settings in various conditions during training, you can easily find the optimum.

This becomes a benchmark that you can replicate during actual racing, which helps reduce unpredictability, save time, increase confidence and improve performance!

As a new sail is used and begins to stretch, the calibration marks may not always read exactly the same. However, with slight adjustments to your sail setting, the calibration marks will still serve as an effective reference point. Use a new or relatively new sail when applying your calibration markings for the first time.This ensures that your best sails, which will be predominantly used for racing events, are properly calibrated and can provide accurate information when making sail adjustments during a race.

By using calibration markings and paying attention to the changes in your sail's performance, you can maintain consistency and optimize your boat setup to stay competitive on the race course.

Setting up your rigging properly to ensure accurate calibration is crucial for optimal sail performance. Follow these simple steps to achieve consistent and reliable sail settings:

 1. Assemble your rigging using a new or your newest sail, ensuring the Outhaul, Downhaul, and Kicker are attached.

 2. ILCA 6 and ILCA 7, measure 5 inches from the end of your boom and set the position of the sail with the tip exactly 5 inches from the end of the boom.

 ILCA 4, measure 15 inches from the end of your boom and set the position of the sail with the tip exactly 15 inches from the end of the boom.

3. Choose a reference marker along your Outhaul control line.

 For example, Sailing Chandlery ILCA sailor Jack Graham-Troll uses the centre hole of the block along the Outhaul that joins the primary and secondary lines. Jack’s Outhaul is made up with a longer primary line, positioning this block further along the boom, directly in his line of sight.

4. Attach the calibration sticker to the boom, ensuring that the number five marker line is aligned with your chosen reference marker point.

5. Wrap the sticker around the boom so that the numbers 5 to 9 align horizontally along each side of the boom, with the join coming together along the bottom edge of the boom and the Sailing Chandlery logo along the top.

The calibration marker lines should be visible around the circumference of the boom, providing a clear reference point regardless of your tack or point of sail.