[frers-list]Sailing Up-wind

[Albert Francis X NSSC]

Thought I'd ask this question to the group as you all will have the best
knowledge and experience.  Bought my Frers 33 last year and this is my
second season racing it.  I have new Kevlar sails (UK main with top two
battens full length and a North 3DL 155% genoa) and a new spinnaker and race
PHRF with a handicap of 114.  Off the wind the boat performs pretty well
keeping up with most other boats and gaining on some.  However, up almost
every other boat pulls away from us.  The kinds of boats are fairly diverse
and are included below along with their PHRF handicap.  One thing I've
noticed on my boat is that the mast is raked aft pretty far.  The block in
the partners is very thick forward and extremely thin in the back causing
the mast to have quite a rake.  Along with that is an extender that has been
added to the forestay. 

In lighter air I'll move the genoa leads forward a bit to close off the
leach of the genoa and in heavier air back a bit to allow the leach to spill
the excess air.  In really heavy air the boat tends to have a fairly strong
weather helm and that may be due somewhat to the rake of the main.

Beyond that are there any tricks or tactics that you all as a group have
identified works to move the boat up wind better.  Less rake to the mast, or
ease off the back stay in light air, flatten everything out in heavy air.

Love the boat but I've got to figure out how to go faster upwind.  Any help
would be appreciated. 

Boats below are what I racing against and the only ones I'm consistently
beating are the Ranger 37 and the Beneteau 38 and one of the J-105s .  On
occasion I'm also beating the C&C 40 and one of the Beneteau 36.7s but the
rest of these guys have me eating their dust.  For the Frers 33 world this
is embarrassing.   Now you all can be confident that I will never be racing
this boat one design against you since Newport is just too far away so if
you have any ideas spill.

Thanks,
Frank Albert
41621 Relentless

Beneteau 	36.7	78  (three of these)
Melges 24		99  (three of these)
C&C 40 		90
C&C 99		102
Ranger 37		120
Beneteau 38	120
J-105		96  (two of these)
Frers 36	         96