I have deliberately left medium wind upwind sailing to last, as it tends to have a little overlap with strong and/or light wind technique depending on the day in question. By medium winds I mean wind strengths from starting to hike, using full power in the sail, to depowering using controls, but not having to persistently spill wind.
In these conditions a lot of sailors tend to be quite fast, and there is often a smaller difference in boat speed between the front and middle, or middle and back of the fleet. To do well in these conditions speed is important but making the most of every fluctuation in wind direction will, especially in inland locations, make the difference between you and the competition.
Firstly a look at boat setup; keep your sail as powered up as you can, then depower progressively if you are having to spill wind. As in strong winds, there will likely be a fluctuation in wind strength by about 20% either side of the mean (Frank Bethwaites Higher Performance Sailing has a good deal on this and the causes) so be prepared to depower and power up the rig as the wind strength changes.
Outhaul: Leave it fairly deep, about a hand span at the deepest point should do the job. Unless there is a big change in wind strength I tend to leave it like this.
Downhaul: Just use enough to remove big creases unless you are having to spill wind, then pull it on progressively.
Kicker: No need to use it until you are starting to get overpowered. Just take the slack up and use the mainsheet as the principle control to control the leech. In flat water start depowering with the kicker, then use the downhaul, in waves use more downhaul than kicker to control the power. Having said this, just remember it is important to use both to balance the sail.
On to sailing the boat fast, revisit the basics, make sure you have good trim, and are keeping the boat close to flat. Beyond that power the rig up and be prepared to adapt the way you are sailing and the rig to suit the changing wind.
In medium winds I work hard to make the most of any change in wind direction, milking as much height as I can from the boat.
Most boats will naturally have a small amount of weather helm, hold the tiller extension lightly and use the boats natural tendency to head up to help find the wind direction and make the most of the fluctuations. If you are marginally overpowered, pinch to depower to gain more height. My rudder is rarely completely still in these conditions, lots of small movements to adjust the boats course to the wind.
Doug Peckover in his blog Improper Course, has some interesting thoughts on squeezing every last bit of speed from your boat. Definitely worth a read.
http://www.impropercourse.com/2012/11/laser-cheat-sheet-sailing-fast-pressing.html
In conclusion, if you can sail fast in light and strong winds then medium winds you should be able to get pretty close to maximum speed at any one time, to keep the speed and squeeze that last few drops from the boat, work hard at changing gears as the wind does, and make work of every tiny fluctuation in the wind, each small gain will add up to big gains.
This Video of me sailing a Radial at QMSC shows a lot of what I have written about. Notice how the heel of the boat remains flat or very close to flat. As the wind drops I release the Downhaul and ease the Kicker. I am constantly gently changing course to keep the boat on the wind. If you watch the boats in the back ground the sailors remain static, it is visible that their boats are rarely flat. In critique of myself, I was occasionally using too much rudder as I move my weight out of the boat, and have a slightly compromised hiking style. Both I can try to blame on the short tiller extension. To illustrate the difference all of this made, and as a little brag, I was comfortably second to the windward mark from about 25 Lasers. I was sailing a Radial while most of the others were using a standard rig.
To practise, get to know the weather helm in your boat, feel the boat, how the boat responds to the wind through the tiller and your legs/ backside. Try a few training upwind runs with the rudder slightly raised, this will amplify the feedback the boat gives through the rudder, try to keep a slight and constant leeward heel, this should help you feel how the boat wants to turn towards the wind, don’t fight it hold the tiller extension lightly (possibly holding the extension in a frying pan grip behind you will help) allow the boat to turn. Hopefully you should find that in any gusts or lifts the boat heads up slightly then as it depowers comes flat and may heel slightly to windward, at which point a slight pull on the tiller will power the boat up again. Once you are starting to feel how your boat responds pop the rudder down, and try it with your eyes closed. If you can do it blind you can then free your eyes up to look around the race course.
Happy sailing
Andy
