It was better to make sure the mainsheet was eased and the boat sailing low and fast if a big set was about to be encountered. Attempting all but minimal steering to avoid waves seemed fruitless. The mainsail needed more twist on starboard, bringing the traveler up (basically to the centerline) and playing the sheet to control heel. Easing the jib sheet slightly (25 to 50 millimeters from normal), moving the lead forward a similar amount, and easing the inhaul (letting the lead outboard) slightly seemed effective. The trim setup had to allow the helmsperson to foot (sail lower and faster) more than usual to power through the waves.

A recent regatta in Miami provided a classic example: the starboard tack was straight into a short, nasty chop. It is not uncommon to need different setups upwind on opposite tacks. This is possible particularly if the impeller is not on centerline. One other source of potential frustration can be a speedo that is different from tack to tack. If the mast is close to the center of the boat and reasonably straight, it is probably not the rig. Check to make sure the mast is in the center of the boat (using a centerline halyard to equi-distant points on the rail), and sight up the mainsail track while sailing upwind to make sure it is reasonably straight. More than likely, it is not rig tune but sail trim and steering technique that is the cause of a tack-to-tack speed difference. Jib eased slightly, lead forward and outboard to power up through chop. On one tack my speed and pointing seems better than the other. Why does my boat point better on one tack?

Tack into the waves