Page 44 - Folk Boat Year Book 2022

keel as possible; make sure your rudder is minimum weight (15kgs) not the standard
weight out of the factory (25kgs); no weight in cockpit lockers and minimal weight in
cabin under the bunks; crew weight aft upwind in heavy weather to get the bow out,
crew weight forward downwind in light to moderate weather to go bow down and
transom up – less wetted surface area and more chance to glide on top of the waves
with slight windward heel (see picture below, although both crew should ideally be in
front of the forestay and the helm should be in front of the horse and tucked up by
the cabin!).

#3 – the speed is in the mast set up, you will not go wrong if you follow the North
sails tuning guide and play around from there for your optimum settings and Richie
Bell at Norths in Fareham/ Gosport is always super helpful.
www.northsails.com/sailing/en/resources/nordic-folkboat-tuning-guide

The key is the 8cm forestay sag, set in F1 to F3 conditions (see picture #3 below and
to the left and the red stick marking the 8cms sag, with the forestay at 131 to 131.5
cms from the jib tack on the deck to the black mark on the forestay (see North sails
tuning link for a ‘how to’ guide regards shroud, jumpers and backstay tension).

We find the Bjarne mast is the fastest for us (see picture #2 above of Madelaine
sailing downwind for section of mast and boom plus picture #4 immediately below
and right).

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