Manuel Braganca  and the unreachable angle, the concept behind the technic

by Santi Lopez

As a scouter, my main job is to observe and understand how sailors and the different brands are moving and evolving.

This neutral position allows me to talk with many talented coaches, fast sailors, and parents (most of them former sailors), exchange ideas, share insights, and develop a vision of what could be the best setup and boat handling for a specific type of sailor.

One of the latest and most relevant topics under discussion is the ability to sail at a high angle without losing speed. This compromise between angle and speed can make a significant difference, especially after the start, during those first 100 meters that can define the leadership on the first upwind.

What Manu Bragança managed to accomplish at 48+ kg during the final days of the World Championship was inspiring for many sailors. Sailing at a high angle in light conditions requires fine technique, together with a specific type of gear.

Let’s start by saying that, for lighter sailors (less than 40 kg), the ability to sail high and fast is easier. The situation becomes more complicated as the sailor gets heavier, especially when this happens over a short period of time.

The aim of this article is to analyze Manu’s technique and its application with the DRS model, opening a discussion on body position, rake settings, and sail handling.

Key Skills to Master

In order to be able to sail at a high angle, the sailor should master the following technical skills:

1.    Be able to recognize the different sensations when sailing with a low rake and a high rake.
2.    Sail with the luff and sail with the leech.
3.    Know the difference between Initial Rake (IR) and Final Rake (FR).
4.    Be able to connect the lower body to the hull.

These four skills are fundamental to allowing the DRS to express its maximum potential, unleashing speed and angle. 
These suggestions might not be applicable to other sails, as the design of the DRS is unique.
Here, I present a three step progression to help sailors master these key skills.

Step 1 – Telltails Lie

From the beginning of a standard sailing career, coaches explain how important it is to follow the telltails. A kid will hear the same feedback thousands of times: to achieve the perfect upwind angle, just follow the telltails.

But what if I tell you that, to be extraordinary like Manu, we have to think outside the box?

Sailors should be able to deeply understand the limits of the sail, especially when we are talking about a technical sail such as the DRS.

The telltails can limit the actions of the sailor, depriving them of degrees of freedom that, at the end of the day, can make the difference.
To understand the limits of the DRS, we should teach sailors how to sail with the luff and with the leech. The first action that should be taken is to remove all the telltails from the sail. The only one left should be the one on the leech.

We keep the sailor's usual rake. If the sailor is changing from another brand or model, then we fix it at 278.5 cm.

From that moment on, the sailors will train in these conditions, learning to observe the sail differently and feeling the changes in speed according to the angle at which they are sailing.
Now, the only visible limits are two: the luff and the telltail on the leech.
The luff should always be full and should never flap.
Regarding the leech, sailors should observe how the action of the mainsheet is transmitted to the tension on the leech, opening and closing the leech with the intention of sailing at a higher angle.

Actions

Full luff → pull the mainsheet → close the leech → sail higher → feel the boat speed (key action) → understand when the boat is slowing down → open the leech → gain speed → repeat.
By performing these actions, the sailor will experience several mistakes, but these mistakes are necessary to gain information about the behavior of the boat.
This process requires time and dedication, but most of all, patience, because performance will decrease at the beginning of the process.

Body Position

The body position has to be standardized during the process of learning the limits. In this way, the coach will have an easier time giving feedback and observing the sailor's actions.
To connect the lower body to the hull, allowing the sailor to control each movement of the boat, the position of the front and back feet plays an important role.

Front Foot

The front foot should be positioned under the strap, as far forward as possible. The straps should be tight enough to feel their tension on the dorsum of the foot.
You can increase the tension on the straps by lifting the heel.
The front knee should be at approximately a 90-degree angle, with the thighs under tension.

Back Foot

The back foot can be positioned in three different places:
1.    Heel touching the windward side of the hull, with the forefoot on the bottom.
2.    Pronated foot, with the knee pointing forward, positioned between the windward strap and the windward side of the hull.
3.    Pronated foot, positioned over the windward strap, with the knee pointing forward, between the windward strap and the windward side of the hull.
The main difference between positions 2 and 3 is the additional tension you will feel on the front foot, created by the compression of the back foot against the strap.

By mixing lower-body actions with luff/leech trimming, the sailor should start experiencing a different degree of freedom. One of the first adaptations to this system will be the ability to sail with the luff full at all times.

Once these techniques are stable and the sailor is able to be competitive in a speed test without using the telltails, we can move on to Step 2.

Step 2 – The Rake

The actions taken on the rake will directly affect the behavior of the boat in terms of angle, tension on the rudder, and leech tension. At the same mainsheet tension, a higher rake will result in higher leech tension. In some cases, this action can compromise the shape of the sail.

The main characteristic of the DRS is the stability of its shape, allowing the sailor to control leech tension with a higher level of precision. A lower rake will result in lower leech tension, allowing the sailor to pull the mainsheet and bring the boom inside the hull without compromising the shape of the sail.

The difficult part is being able to sail with a low rake while maintaining high speed. This handling technique should be taught progressively, as the sailor needs to adapt to a different feeling on the rudder and mainsheet.

While sailing with a low rake, if the sail flaps, the boat will stop, and restarting will cost time and distance. That is why, before approaching Step 2, Step 1 should be fully accomplished.

Rake Progression

Sailing with a lower rake will provide a higher angle. Nevertheless, we should distinguish between Initial Rake (IR) and Final Rake (FR).
The Initial Rake is the measurement taken ashore, from the top of the mast to the aft end of the deck. The Final Rake is the measurement taken after sheeting in the mainsheet under normal sailing conditions.
The latter is determined by the flexion of the mast. A softer mast will increase the difference between IR and FR. On a medium mast, the difference between these two parameters can be around 2 cm. On a soft mast, the difference can reach 4–5 cm. This should be taken into consideration when choosing both the IR and the mast the sailor will use.
A good progression should start from the IR that the sailor is accustomed to. If you are coming from a different brand or from a cross-cut sail, you can start the progression from 278.5 cm.
After a period of training, depending on the athlete's technical skills, you can move the IR backwards by 0.5 cm. This period of adaptation should continue until the sailor is able to apply the technique described in Step 1 without difficulty.
The process should then continue by half a centimeter at a time until the sailor and coach determine the best Speed/Angle ratio.

Sailing a DRS at a high angle is not about finding one perfect setting or one perfect piece of equipment. It is about understanding how the sailor, the sail, the rig, and the boat interact as one system.

How to Choose the Mast

There are mainly three types of masts on the market: flex, medium, and stiff. Choosing the right mast cannot be underestimated, as the correct choice can make your life easier when it comes to boat handling.
At the moment, there are three main brands that provide spars to the Optimist fleet. When buying a mast, you should take into account two main factors: flexibility and durability.
Durability is determined by the quality of the manufacturing process (insulation, waterproofing, and the quality of the fittings) and the strength of the coating, which helps prevent corrosion.
Flexibility is determined by the material, the thickness of the tube, and its diameter. All these factors combined determine the weight of the mast, but weight alone cannot be the decisive parameter.

When it comes to deciding which mast is best for a sailor, here are two tips:
•    Lighter is better: start with a lighter mast, but…
•    If the difference between the IR and FR is more than 4–5 cm and the sailor has difficulty accelerating, you can switch to a stiffer mast and sail with a lower IR.

On average, the mast range according to the sailor's weight is as follows:
•    CD Soft Mast: used with FLAT and DRS models up to 38–39 kg; switch to the MEDIUM model up to 41 kg.
•    CD Medium Mast: used with the MEDIUM model up to 44 kg; then switch to POWER or DRS.
•    CD Hard Mast: used with POWER, DRS++, or Booster from 48 kg onwards.

Special cases

•    CD Soft Mast with DRS Classic: for lighter sailors (less than 40 kg), mostly in light conditions.
•    CD Medium Mast with DRS Classic: for sailors in the 47–49 kg range; technical skills are required.
•    CD Medium Mast for DRS++, Power, and Booster: for sailors over 48 kg, particularly if the sailor likes the feel of the mainsheet and loses that feeling with a stiffer mast.

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How to Choose the Sprit

The sprit provides stability to the leech. A softer sprit is always recommended, as it reduces the weight at the top of the sail and spar system.
But…

If the sailor is losing speed and has difficulty accelerating in choppy conditions, then a stiffer sprit may be needed. When the leech deforms with every wave due to the flex of the sprit, it does not allow the boat to accelerate properly. A stiffer sprit will give the sail more stability.

How to Choose the Boom

As always, lighter is better. There are different brands offering good products, but on average, you will find four different types:
•    43 mm
•    45 mm
•    48 mm
•    50 mm
Of these four boom sizes, the best weight to performance ratio at the moment is offered by the 45 mm boom. You can use it from the FLAT model through to the Booster.
Things to take into consideration
•    A stiffer boom will increase the bending of the mast.
•    A softer boom will deform together with the mast.

Conclusion

The first priority should always be to develop the sailor's ability to feel and control the boat. Learning to sail with the luff and the leech, understanding the relationship between IR and FR, and connecting the lower body to the hull are the foundations of this process. Once these skills are established, changes in rake and equipment can be used to fine-tune the setup and improve the speed-to-angle ratio.

The same principle applies when choosing the mast, sprit, and boom. Lighter is generally better, but the lightest component is not necessarily the fastest solution. Flexibility, stability, durability, sailor weight, and sailing conditions all have to be considered together.
The objective is therefore not to make the boat as stiff or as light as possible, but to find the combination that allows the sailor to maintain speed while sailing at the desired angle. Small changes in rake, mast stiffness, sprit, or boom can have a significant effect on the way the boat feels and accelerates.
Ultimately, the best setup is the one that gives the sailor confidence, control, and the ability to repeat the same actions consistently. Gear should support the technique, not replace it.
The process takes time, experimentation, and patience. By progressively exploring the limits of the sail and the boat, sailors can develop a deeper understanding of their equipment and, most importantly, learn how to turn that understanding into speed.