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Sailing guide

Sail choice, easing and spinnakers

Learn when to ease a sail and when to hoist or drop a spinnaker. Practise sail changes on the J/70 before a leeward mark rounding.

By the SailPolars team · Updated

SailPolars sailing simulator practice scene

Choose a sail for the next leg

The mainsail provides drive across useful sailing angles. Boats with a jib use it with the mainsail. A spinnaker adds sail area for suitable downwind angles.

In SailPolars, the J/70 has a separate hoistable spinnaker. The ILCA, Optimist and F18 do not have a separate hoist control. Real boats can have different rigs and sail controls.

Give the change time

A hoist raises the spinnaker. A drop lowers it. Both take time. Start a drop early enough to complete it before you turn onto the upwind leg.

Press Tab or use HOIST and DROP on the J/70. Watch the progress indicator. Do not assume the sail change is complete when you press the control.

Ease to reduce drive and load

Easing lets a sail out. This can reduce the force and heeling load. In the game, hold Space or EASE to reduce drive. Release the control to power up again.

Watch speed and load together. Unnecessary easing loses useful progress. In a strong gust, a short ease can help keep control. Easing does not park the boat: wind and waves still cause drift.

Practise this idea

  1. Select the J/70 in free sailing.
  2. Sail downwind and start the hoist.
  3. Observe the progress indicator and the change in speed.
  4. Start the drop before turning upwind.
  5. Compare a brief ease with a long ease in the same conditions.
Open the matching lesson

Avoid this mistake

Do not carry the spinnaker into the upwind leg while waiting for the drop. Plan the change before the rounding.

Check your understanding

Can you complete the drop before the turn without leaving the boat underpowered for a long time? Repeat the approach at a different wind speed.

Continue learning

This guide follows the SailPolars sailing school and guided practice lessons. Game controls describe the simulator. They do not replace practical instruction on a real boat.

Next: Velocity made good: speed versus progressAll practice lessons