The D-One controls leech tension using mainly the mainsheet and traveller, and when they are eased, the kicker comes into play.
In the lighter winds you do not need to worry about how much power you have (obviously) however as the wind gets stronger and stronger you need to start thinking about controlling the power in the mainsail.
Not necessarily dumping power….but controlling it with kicker and traveller and downhaul..
Light Wind sailing Upwind
Keep a lot of mainsheet tension to get a nice mast bend and tight leech.
Traveller just off centreline and progressively let it off as the gusts get up.
Kicker is on enough to get yourself under the boom in a tack and to keep the boom horizontal when mainsheet is let off.
Light Wind Sailing Downwind
The less centred the mainsheet the more power you apply to the boat going downhill.
As you have a short bow you will know when you have too much mainsail presented to the wind and you can progressive move the traveller more centreline to depower.
Keep enough mainsheet tension to keep as much leech tension as you want.
Keep the kicker on to keep the boom horizontal, however you can loosen it off a bit to create a nice “slot” between the mainsail and the kite.
Light wind reaching without the kite
Keep the mainsheet traveller centreline and keep the boat flat and trimmed…if you need more power you can start easing the traveller slightly, but never too much.
Kicker needs to be put on tight to keep a nice leech tension….tighter than you can get under the boom…so don’t forget to release it before a tack.
The D-One has plenty of power options and light wind sailing is really fast!
Heavy Wind Sailing Upwind.
Keep a lot of mainsheet tension to get a nice mast bend and tight leech.
Traveller will be nearly all the way eased, however in the lulls it pays to pull on the traveller to gain pointing ability and more power….as the gust hits…..let the traveller off again…..”Power on Power Off.”
Kicker is on enough to get yourself under the boom in a tack and to keep the boom horizontal when mainsheet is let off.
Apply downhaul to flatten the main off. (The downhaul is very effective and works well with the mast and the mainsail)
Heavy Wind Sailing Downwind.
It’s very important to centre the mainsheet traveller BEFORE bearing away to hoist the spinnaker.
Leave the kicker setting on (same as upwind setting to keep the main under control)
Leave the downhaul on.
Let the mainsheet out until the boom is approx 45 degree angle from the mast, hiking on the wing and sitting back.
The D-One will shoot up onto the plane and from the wing and on a REACH (not dead downwind) you will be perfectly balanced enough to reach in and hoist the spinnaker (arm over arm with tiller in hand also)
Once Spinny is flying you will be flying off downwind (bearing away in the gusts) and you will be able to gauge how much more power to apply (should you need to)
If it’s blowing dogs off chains then you can quite happily sail downwind with those settings, however if you want more power then release the downhaul completely, and also start easing the kicker (not too much) and also you can release a bit more mainsheet, but not too much as this is keeping the leech tension tight enough to hold the mast from bending forwards.
DO NOT ease the traveller, leave it centreline.
Heavy Wind Reaching without the kite
Keep the mainsheet traveller centreline and keep the boat flat and trimmed.
You will not want too much power which will put your bow down, so keep the traveller centred.
Kicker needs to be put on really tight to keep a nice leech tension….tighter than you can get under the boom…so don’t forget to release it before a tack
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