Increasing mast rake in stronger winds

I reckon in the really light stuff its best to rake it back a bit.  Only in light to medium strength should you use the most upright setting and even then I'd expect there to be about 20 inches of rake between the masthead and the gooseneck.  And let's face it you shouldn't worry about it being too raked for off-wind work since most of your drive will be coming from the kite.  If I was sailing a National 12 I'd be more fussy.  I'd be inclined to have a means of loosening the leeward shroud though so that the boom can go out further.

I must point out that I'm not a Wayfarer sailor though but I'm a firm believer in doing what the good guys do until you can do it better. Or to put it another way (and I've seen plenty try this) a poor sailor is not suddenly going to beat the top guys by doing something different.

The whole point of changing mast rake is that it affects many different aspects of the rig - nearly all of them in exactly the way we are looking for in a breeze. The obvious one is the slot becoming more open, but the change in spreader/shroud geometry allows the mast to bend more, flattening the main and opening the leech, which also moves the centre of effort of the main forward somewhat, helping with balance. I could go on and on, but the fact is it works. I've sailed a Flying Dutchman for some ten years now, and raking the mast in a breeze is the only way to sail it. Fully powered-up in 10 knots, and as the breeze builds we rake the mast, pull the board back in it's slot and just go faster and faster!!

If you are not convinced about rake being fast, I would strongly suggest you go for a blast in a boat that you can adjust on the water with string. If anyone wants a go, I can convince you in 30 seconds.

Neil