I use NJORD Analytics. But I haven't referred to it in over a year. Seems like my tacking angles were 90-100 degrees maybe a little more in 10-15 kts. In practice, I add a little more than 90 before tacking to lay the windward mark in that wind. Sometimes I'll check it during pre-race time by tacking at what I think is the lay line to a stationary mark. At 10 kts of true wind you should be planing upwind (>7.5 kts). If you find yourself sort of stuck at 7.5 kts SOG, try hiking more and maybe slide aft a little to keep that leeward ama from digging as much.

By TWA do you mean true wind angle? I would say you can sail 45 degrees to the true wind when close hauled on a Weta. But the true wind is kind of irrelevant. We adjust our sails to the Apparent Wind as indicated by streamers tied to the shrouds (aka side stays) When close hauled the streamers on the shrouds are going straight back so we are sailing almost directly into the apparent wind. With the sails in as tight as possible, you try to keep the luff yarns on the jib streaming back which indicates attached airflow on both the windward and leeward sides of the the jib sail. SOG, speed over the ground. The Weta starts to plane in around 10 knots of wind. Once planing the SOG is around 12 to 14 knots depending on point of sail, crew weight etc. In wind 20 gusting to 25 knots or more, with two crew sitting on the "back porch" to try and prevent a pitch poll, and Gennaker, jib and main all adjusted to the optimum angle to attack, the Weta has reached 20knot speeds.

In such conditions the apparent wind moves forward so the apparent wind may be abeam or slightly forward of the beam, even though you are on a broad reach.

-- Rick Upson

Jeffrey, lookin at the picture, it looks your AKA's don't have plugs. The fiberglass plug should help with wear. You can get them from EAst Coast Sailboats.

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