Trimming a trysail.

[Lancer28]

I've always kept my trysail on the track in its little bag at the base of the mast, and thankfully haven't had to use it yet.

I was fooling around with it after a crazy storm a couple of weekends ago, and I realized I should ask a few questions about it.

The questions start with trimming it. Do I sheet it flat as I can, or should I use it as a mini-mainsail to keep the boat's forward motion when it falls off the wind too far when heaving to and actually trim it?

Thanks!

[Tartan34C]

This probably isn’t what you are looking for but trim as needed. You might want to run or you might want to bash to weather depending on sea room and circumstances. Each will require different trim and even different sheet leads. By the way you don’t store the trysail on deck all the time do you? It’s a sail that needs to be taken care of and kept dry and out of the weather so it’s as strong as possible when you need it. It’s along the lines of the practice that the old square-riggers had of bending on the newest and best sails when the weather was bad and keeping the old worn canvas for day to day use.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[Lancer28]

If I have a storm coming up, I clip it on and get it ready. It is only out if I think something bad is coming, or it already showed up.