Stalling the mainsail

A useful guide to setting up the mainsheet traveller is to closehaul the sail with the sheet, then bring the car up to weather until the luff stops lifting. In light weather, it can be acceptable to heave it all the way across until the boom is right on the midships line, but if the spar is allowed to come to windward of this critical setting, then weather helm and slow boat speed will be your portion. In a stronger breeze, a main set to weather of amidships like this one can leave the boat broaching when she’s hard on the wind.