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Winning
in Impalas Sails are probably the most significant area where gains are likely to be made. New sails, set correctly will result in improved performance. However good sails only work to their potential when well trimmed and with the rig set up correctly. Different rig set ups may be required and different styles of trim, in differing conditions. |
Westaway Sails can provide fully developed, fast sails, complete with a tuning guide to help set the boat up for light, medium and strong winds.
In all classes, including the Impala, the preparation of the hull is fundamental to the performance of the boat. a smooth and fair hull will be faster than a poor finish.
The hull, keel and rudder need to be faired as well as possible. This will require sanding, filling and fairing the bumps and blemishes. Most Impala hulls are quite fair, but be warned the keels are not!, especially the joins between keel and hull. Finally the hull needs to be as smooth as possible before anti fouling.
Strip all unneeded weight out of the boat. Excess weight is only of use in a steam roller.
Light Winds
Impalas
are notoriously slow in light airs, especially against newer design or
IOR style boats. Too little sail area, too heavy for the wetted surface
area. All you can do about sail area is have new sails to the maximum
sizes allowed in the rules. It is worth noting that sails shrink with
age especially laminate (mylar) fabrics, so new sails are especially important
in light airs. Sails need twist in light airs. The halyards on both Main
and Genoa should be slack, wrinkles out of the luff are fast. The Genoa
car should be well aft in very light airs. The mainsheet traveller should
be fully up to windward no vang on and the sheet eased so the boom is
on the centre line. The top of the Mainsail may be too full and a crease
may come from the inboard end of the batten down the sail. Try a little
backstay - this will flatten the top of the sail and help twist off the
leech.
Spinnaker trim is difficult. The pole must be constantly adjusted as well as the sheet. Do not over square the pole as the sail will set better out in front of the boat.
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The pole must be lowered in the lulls and raised in the puffs. Do not run too deep as you will loose speed. Reaching to about 150 degrees apparent is a good guide to best VMG. Crew weight must be kept forward. |
Crew weight in the cockpit will dig the stern in and increase drag. Try weight well forward, to leeward, upwind and as low as possible. Crew down below decks is very fast when waves are around.
"Impulsive" won the Light Airs 1999 European Championships using Westaway Sails.
Medium Winds
Impalas
are very difficult to beat in IRC handicap in 10-22 knots of wind. They
hold their own downwind and are very fast upwind and especially good at
pointing.
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Your Genoa needs to be flat and the rig set up correctly to point high. The Genoa should be sheeted in hard against the shrouds again with little halyard. Unless overpowered the backstay should be off, outhaul tight, traveller around the middle of the track, the mainsheet pulled in until the top tell-tale starts to stall (flip to leeward) and the slack taken out of the vang. Use your No 1 Genoa unless completely overpressed the sail will not last long but it will be fast By now your Impala will fly upwind. Fetching you should ease the outhaul and sheet the Genoa onto the outside track. If overpressed fetching with the No 1 Genoa or large waves and overpressed up wind, change to the No 2 Genoa Downwind you can sail almost straight downwind with the pole squared well back and set the pole higher than you expect, this will open the leeches , maximising the projected area. |
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Again crew weight forward is fast, but more aft when reaching to increase control on the helm.
Strong Winds
Impalas
are still competitive in strong winds. Upwind you need to perfect the
art of feathering to Windward. Once you have managed this you will be
able to carry a large sail plan. Try to avoid reefing until absolutely
essential ,the mainsail drives the boat ,change down to at least the No3
before reefing. If you need 2 reefs you should go home. Use maximum halyard
tension, maximum vang, moderate backstay, maximum mainsheet(with a strong
trimmer) and traveller down the track as necessary.
In flat water change straight from a No 1 Genoa to a No 3. In waves a No 2 is worth using up to about 25 knots if possible. Crew weight should be as far outboard as possible and a little further aft. Downwind in very strong winds crew weight should be well aft(on the pushpit), as the rudder is very poor. With Spinnakers up steering can be difficult reaching, try pole up and aft a little, and downwind pole forward to keep the centre of the sail directly in front of the bow of the boat. This is not fast but is easier to steer, if this fails try a smaller spinnaker or reach up just a little.
Other general tips include :- use minimum diameter rope like 8mm spectra for all halyards and sheets, the rope will run easier, causing less snags.
Launch the Spinnaker from the companion way, this will keep a crew member off the bow as much as possible.. Weight in the bow is especially bad on the Impala. Sail with a heavy crew! especially in strong winds
Most importantly - Use Westaway Sails!