Trimming Square Sails

[perhapsthis]

Apologies if this is a noob question. I've just started a new game in Aestrin and this is the first time that I've had a ship with square sails. I have found that if I just let the mainsheets out completely, the mainsail turns to suit the wind and I can stay on course without adjusting the wheel at all. Is it better, though, to actually trim the sail properly with mainsheets?

[Sedonis]

Waves in archipelagos aren´t that mad, so should be fine to go.
Outside of that or with heavy cargo, i tend to keep the trimming more forward to avoid flooding.

[Primus]

When the sheet is completely out, wind cannot push against the sail at maximum force. The sail would be basically windvaning. Instead, trim in until you can feel wind pressure in the sail (the winches will turn slower), and continue trimming in half more turn. That should give you the best performance.

[jamespfp]

Part of what makes "Hard" mode hard is the default rigging on the Cog. In short, both the Jib and the Square are Foresails, meaning they're put into use ahead of the mast, and that's why trimming them works but only given certain wind conditions. In other words, it isn't terribly efficient to be using them both at the same time unless the wind is kept at a very specific angle (directly to one side or the other), and when you're going downwind you might as well use only one of them as both.

I've always found that it is best to use the same "rules" for how to trim a square as a jib, otherwise. To keep the apparent angle at or near 45 degrees, use the winch which is on the Upwind side of the boat. The *difference* between the jib and the square is that letting a jib looser makes it more perpendicular to the Keel, and the opposite is true for the Squares which start perpendicular and gradually become more parallel to the keel.

Jibs are meant to sail into the Wind, but the Square is inefficient for this because only half of the sail's area is giving useful forward thrust. The rest wants to make the boat heel over. When a square has been let out to around 45 degrees to either side, this is the point of no return for this heeling. And, this is exactly what defines the Lateen style of sail from the Square. In short, the lateen has about half the sail's square area cut away since it would only be causing heeling.

[perhapsthis]

Originally posted by jamespfp:

Part of what makes "Hard" mode hard is the default rigging on the Cog. In short, both the Jib and the Square are Foresails, meaning they're put into use ahead of the mast, and that's why trimming them works but only given certain wind conditions. In other words, it isn't terribly efficient to be using them both at the same time unless the wind is kept at a very specific angle (directly to one side or the other), and when you're going downwind you might as well use only one of them as both.

I've always found that it is best to use the same "rules" for how to trim a square as a jib, otherwise. To keep the apparent angle at or near 45 degrees, use the winch which is on the Upwind side of the boat. The *difference* between the jib and the square is that letting a jib looser makes it more perpendicular to the Keel, and the opposite is true for the Squares which start perpendicular and gradually become more parallel to the keel.

Jibs are meant to sail into the Wind, but the Square is inefficient for this because only half of the sail's area is giving useful forward thrust. The rest wants to make the boat heel over. When a square has been let out to around 45 degrees to either side, this is the point of no return for this heeling. And, this is exactly what defines the Lateen style of sail from the Square. In short, the lateen has about half the sail's square area cut away since it would only be causing heeling.

That's a fantastic explanation, thank you.

[jamespfp]

Glad to oblige!

Squares will work fine if the angle of the Wind is 90 degrees, which is what you were describing I think, how they'll "automatically" turn to show direction, but they're always most efficient at 45 degrees and that's why they're a little slower trying to sail directly downwind. It's also possible to tighten them on the Downwind side when the Wind is inside the 90 degrees from either of the stern quarters, 45 to port or starboard, when the Wind is in there you're basically picking a side to spill some of the Wind onto.

IRL, when a boat doesn't have squares they'll likely fly the Jib to one side and an after sail on the opposite side, to balance out and maximise efficiency when the Wind is being partially blocked to the most forward sails. ; )