New to sailing - couple of questions from first outing

[dsal]

I am new to sailing and have just bought a 1981 Mark I and raised the sails for the first time this weekend.  I had just returned from Florida having took the ASA 101 basic keelboat class on a 34' hunter and a 27' oday.  I have searched through the forums looking for these answers and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for so I thought I'd ask.

1. Adjusting the jib trim.  I tried running my jib sheets both inside and outside of the stays.  I was sailing in light winds and it really seemed like trimmed all the way in was the only option.  It seems like having the jib sheets coming around the stays to the genoa tracks of the newer models would improve this.  Is the standard jib difficult to trim in light winds?  Any suggestions on trimming the jib sheets in the current configuration would be helpful.

2. The main sheet did not seem to like to let out.  This may be because I am lake sailing in light winds, but I thought I'd ask.  I essentially had to release the sheet and then push the boom out to whatever angle I wanted.  Even this was not easy to do - there was a lot of resistance on letting the sheet out.  I also had a lot of trouble with getting the main sheet caught on the stern cleats when trimming it back in.  I also had trouble with the block on the boom twisting around after letting the trim out far.  I would have to twist it back around as I was pulling the sheet in.  Perhaps my main sheet and blocks have some issues I need to deal with?

Also, I'd like to say thanks to everyone for all the information on this forum.  It has been a great resource to get me thinking about things I didn't know I needed to be thinking about!

[NateD]

That all sounds normal for light wind. I rig the jib sheets on the outside of the shrouds. I've done it inside the shrouds too, which works great for upwind, but no good for downwind.

The mainsheet not playing out is normal too (and getting hooked on the horn cleats). The older the blocks are and the larger the diameter of the mainsheet, the worse the problem will be. The twisting is normal too. Replacing the double block on the boom with a fiddle block might help.

The boat really comes alive with some wind. Light air is nice for the first time out so you can learn some of the quirks, but the real fun starts when the whitecaps come out.

[dsal]

Thanks for the information NateD.  Looking forward to more wind!  It's mostly mountain lakes around where I'm at, so light or inconsistent wind might be the norm.  I may look at a Genoa at some point, but I'll let this year pass by first to get an idea of what "normal" is around here.  I'm in Asheville NC, so the lakes around here are Lake Julian, Lake James, Lake Keowee, Lake Jocassee, Lake Watauga, Douglas Lake, Cherokee Lake, Lake Norman, Lake Hartwell, Lake Murray.  If anybody has any experience good or bad on these lakes, I'd be glad to hear about it.

Thanks!

[mikew]

Dsal- fine business on the new boat, I have owned a 1981 and 1983 Cp-16's. The fixed main sheet block does generate a fair amount of friction, and in light winds you have to grab the line to pay it out. I removed my fixed block and installed a swivel block with cam cleat. Now the
cam is always pointing to the helm and there is alot less friction. The stock line diameter is 1/4" too. In moderate winds you will not notice the problem. The mainsheet should go through the pulley's and ride parallel to each other up to the boom and back.
One tip- the Cp-16 doesn't like its sails to be trimmed in too tight in light winds. So to move a little faster let out both sails, a little more. You may not point as high but enjoy the sail more, the boat will be happier too, and generate more boat speed to help when tacking in light winds.
Mike

[BobK]

Dsal,
I sail on Lake Hartwell out of the Western Carolina Sailing Club.  I currently sail a CP27 but have owned two CP16's and a CP23.  You are welcome to come down to try Hartwell as my guest at the sailing club.  Just PM me and we can make arrangements.
BobK

[dsal]

Thanks for the tips Mikew and thanks for the offer BobK.  I will take you up on that at some point.