vx1 sailboat

VX ONE AT A GLANCE 

A POWERFUL, HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORTSBOAT

The VX One is a 2 to 3 person keelboat with a light, easily driven hull by an efficient sail plan set on a full carbon rig. The boat can be launched simply off a dinghy style trolley or craned in using a single point lifting strop.

Key features of the VX One are the off the boom mainsheet which gives a huge uncluttered cockpit, whilst the self-tacking jib makes gybes easy when sailing 2 up. The jib furls for easy launching and recovery and for short-handed sailing or playing with the family. The spinnaker is launched using a single line hoist/ retrieval line making the process easy for anyone and a large chute mouth reduces friction.

Association Link vxone.org.uk

VX One Complete, sail away package

• Complete, fully fitted hull
• Carbon Mast (Inc wires & halyards)
• Carbon Boom & Vang
• Fixed rudder w/carbon tiller & extension
• North Sails – Main, jib and spinnaker
• Under Cover
• Launching trolley
• Combination road trailer w/lighting board

Price:  £38,950

            £32,458.33 (ex VAT)

VX ONE PARTS

VX One Carbon compass bracket

40/29mm Carbo linked block

VX One Bottom Rudder Pintle

Standard furling drum only

Looking for something else, we sell parts & spares.

From sails to rigging, mast fittings and covers.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

One Design, Evolved

Come join us, vx one specifications.

LOA = 19′/5.79m

LWL = 18.83′/5.74m

Beam = 7.17′/2.19m

SA Main + Jib = 215 sq ft./19.97 sq m

SA Gennaker = 280 sq ft./26 sq m

Draft, keel down = 4.33′/1.32m

Crew Weight tolerance = 375 – 475 lbs (2-3 person)

Boats built by Ovington Boats and Mackay Boats

GNAV (above boom Vang)

Self Tacking Jib on Harken Radial track

Recessed Harken Jib furler

Large mouth Gennaker launcher

Single line Gennaker halyard/ retrieval/ pole launcher

Clear coated Carbon mast by Southern Spars or CST

Clear coated Carbon Gennaker prod

Clear coated Carbon Boom

Simple, uncluttered cockpit

Extruded and Anodized Aluminum keel for perfect shape and durability

High performance profile Carbon-Glass rudder

Simplified rig utilizing sensible engineering; provides easy tuning

Storage for Day gear/ Provisions

Under deck paddle storage

No paid professional programs at VX One level

All sailors welcome. No owner-driver restrictions

KISS approach

Browse by Category

• Coach of the Year
• High School Sailing Team of the Year
• Optimist Sailor of the Year
• Sailing Fitness
• Regatta News/Results
• Boat Speed/Tuning/Sailtrim Articles
• General Sailing News
• Coaches Locker Room
• From the Experts
• Profiles in Pro Sailing
• Featured Jobs
• Marketplace Ads
• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Sail1Design

First Name*

Email Address*

March 30, 2013 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

The core principle is that the sailor gets to sail what is, within an affordable price, the most technology for the dollar available anywhere on the market today. Simply put, a “ Big bang for the buck ”.

The vx one is a fresh and exciting sport one-design for the international two to three person racing enthusiast. the design concept is born of a careful review of performance one-design demographics within this category worldwide. the vx one offers sailors from junior to advanced a vehicle for perpetual enjoyment of performance sailing in an affordable, durable, and technically advanced package, and at a realistic price..

The VX One Design offers:

* Team Design Approach : The VX team includes lead design and concepts by Viper 640 designer, Brian Bennett, naval architecture and design engineering by Ross Weene and Rodger Martin, rig development and engineering by John Clinton and the Southern Spars team, and deck layout by Harken. The VX is designed with Multisurf  Yacht design software, 3D modeled with Rhino ceros, and VVP analysis by the Wolfston unit (UK) software. Hull tools will be cut with precision 5 axis CNC equipment for perfect geometry and replication.

*  Optimized Construction Techniques:  The VX will be built using a conservative level of technology. Major components will be resin-infused with Vinylester and e glass with PVC cores, and Armorflex gelcoat. This is the most environmentally considerate approach to building a production boat and will provide a tough, durable craft, with optimal performance and longevity. Due to the 3-D design process, all parts and systems can be duplicated with precision and stocked for quick turnaround if needed. This will be a boat that will give many years of racing service.

* ISAF One Design Development : The VX is being developed from the start using ISAF templates and guidelines to guarantee strict international design and build tolerances, and class management development.

*  Cost-down engineering : A difficult task requiring experience and an understanding of the dynamics involved in producing and marketing race boats, this is a process where we look carefully at the target market and competition to determine what we feel customers will pay for the finished product, and engineer the project from this figure backwards.

*  Logistics Efficiencies :  Sailing is an expensive sport and suffers from varying degrees of inefficiency. The VX is designed to consider the long-ranging impact of shipping and moving multiple boats and associated equipment efficiently. On initial delivery, the VX can be delivered 3 units per 20’ container, or 8 units per 40’ HC container. The hull is light enough to comfortably stack 3 high on a road single trailer. The Southern Spars Carbon rig is shipped in 2 pieces for easy handling and stocking.

Specifications and Features

Some basic facts : (VX One version)

• LOA    = 19′/5.79m
• LWL   = 18.83′/5.74m
• Beam   =   7.17′/2.19m
• SA Main + Jib  = 215 sq ft./19.97 sq m.
• SA Gennaker  = 280 sq ft./26 sq m.
• Draft, keel down = 4.33′/1.32m
• Crew Weight tolerance = 380 – 450 lbs (2-3 person)
• Boats built and serviced in the U.S.A.
• GNAV (above boom Vang)
• Self Tacking Jib on Harken Radial track
• Recessed Harken  Jib furler
• Large mouth Gennaker launcher
• Single line Gennaker halyard/ retrieval/ pole launcher
• Clear coated Carbon mast by Southern Spars (NZL)
• Clear coated Carbon Gennaker prod
• Clear coated Carbon Boom
• Simple, uncluttered cockpit
• Extruded and Anodized Aluminum keel for perfect shape and durability
• High performance profile Carbon-Glass rudder
• Simplified rig concepts utilizing sensible engineering to provide for easy tuning
• Storage for Day gear/ Provisions
• Under deck paddle storage
• Optional Outboard bracket (2 Hp  Outboard) for recreational use
• No paid professional programs at  VX One  level*
• See SS version for pro/am rules.
• All sailors welcome.  No owner-driver restrictions.

http://vxonedesignracing.com/vxodr/

The VX is developed and produced by  Bennett Yachting Technologies Inc . , a company specializing in and dedicated to building and servicing performance One-Design yachts. Our mission is to maintain the highest standards of quality in manufacturing and service. We are passionate about what we do and aspire to provide a 100% positive customer service experience.

Brian Bennett   [email protected] .

Our manufacturing and service facility is just 15 minutes off I-95 in Savannah, GA, just around the corner from the 4 th  largest container terminal in the US, and also close to rail and road transport facilities for ease of shipping service.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy .

One Design Classes

Browse the airwaves.

• Sailing News Articles
• High School & College News Articles
• One-Design Class Profiles
• Tactics & Strategy
• Sailing & Education
• ICSA Rankings
• Sailing/Yacht Club Profiles
• Youth Sailor of the Year
• Sail1Design Annual Awards

Helpful Links

• Join the S1D Team
• Accessibility Help
• Privacy Policy
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

Great Sailing Experiences

VX Evo & VX One

VX Evo, the sailboat

VX Evo, the singlehnaded sportboat!

VX One, One Design Evolved

The VX ONE is a fresh and exciting sport one-design for the international two to three person racing enthusiast. The design concept is born of a careful review of performance one-design demographics within this category worldwide. The VX offers sailors from Junior to Advanced a vehicle for perpetual enjoyment of performance sailing in an affordable, durable, and technically advanced package, and at a realistic price.

18.83/5.74 m

SA Main + Jib

215 sq ft./19.97 sq m

280 sq ft./26 sq m

Draft, keel down

Crew weight tolerance.

380 - 450 lbs (2-3 person)

Additional Features

• Boats built by Ovington Boats, Ltd. and Mackay Boats Ltd.
• GNAV (above-boom Vang)
• Self Tacking Jib on Harken Radial track
• Recessed Harken Jib furler
• Large mouth Gennaker launcher
• Single line Gennaker halyard/ retrieval/ pole launcher
• Clear coated Carbon mast by Southern Spars (NZL)
• Clear coated Carbon Gennaker pole

What you need to know about the VX Evo

VX Evo: the boat and it's bones.

VX Evo Technical Description

Downloads and support.

Where to buy your VX Evo.

Why the VX Evo ?

About the designers., about the builders., contact us., our gallery.

Testimonial

What our client says.

Integer pretium nec ex et dignissim. Nulla pellentesque ante et urna congue,eget iaculis est vehicula. Sed volutpat dignissim justo,iaculis

Class Contact Information

Click below

Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Keelboat

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 150

Photo Credit:Zerogradinord

Photo Credit: Sarah Wilkinson

Photo Credit: Matthew Cohen

About VX One

The VX ONE is a fresh and exciting sport one-design for the international two to three person racing enthusiast. The design concept is born of a careful review of performance one-design demographics within this category worldwide. The VX offers sailors from Junior to Advanced a vehicle for perpetual enjoyment of performance sailing in an affordable, durable, and technically advanced package, and at a realistic price. Simple. Fast. Fun.

Boats Produced: 250

Class boat builder(s):

Ovington Boats Mackay Boats

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 100

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Newport, RI Holland, MI Sarasota, FL (Winter Series) Cleveland, OH Charleston, SC Gulf Coast Texoma (Texas and Oklahoma)

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2-3

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  380-450

Boat Designed in  2012

Length (feet/inches): 19′

Beam: 7.17′

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 500lbs

Draft: 4.33′

Mast Height: 28′

Coaching or Clinic Resources

Tuning guides.

Back to One-Design Central

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

VX One 

High-speed sailing from the comfort of your own cockpit..

The VX One provides a light and lively sailing experience that cleverly blends dinghy performance with keelboat stability. Its wide, shallow and open cockpit, well-thought through control lines and systems makes the boat very easy to handle.

Find out more in the Features section below

Specifications

Fitted Hull Weight                224kg w/keel

Length                                   5.79m (19')

Width                                      2.19 m (7.17′)

Draft, keel down                   1.32m (4.33′)

Mast Length                          8.35m

Upwind Sail Area                 19.97sqm

Spinnaker Area                    26sqm

Crew Weight tolerance       170 - 205kg  (380 – 450 lbs)

Crew                                       2-3 person

SA Main + Jib                       19.97 sq m (215 sq ft)

SA Gennaker                        26 sq m (280 sq ft)

Designer                                Rodger Martin and Ross Weene

Optional Outboard bracket (2 Hp Outboard) for recreational use

Under deck paddle storage

Storage for Day gear/ Provisions

The VX One successfully bridges the gap between dinghy and keelboat. It is a strict one design class that is sailed with a crew of 2-3 and an optimum weight range of 180-230kg’s.

It's wide, shallow and open cockpit, along with well-thought through control lines and systems, makes the boat very easy to handle, be it in race mode or as a fun day-sailor.

The Hull and Deck Systems

The hull is made from E-glass with carbon reinforcement in key areas, PVC-core and a hard gelcoat surface. This combination means a stiff, robust hull is achieved for performance and longevity.

The open and spacious cockpit enables easy manoeuvrability for crew. Extra cockpit space is also achieved by using a GNAV system (above boom vang).

The mainsheet system comes directly off the boom just like skiff sailing which enables easy trimming and, along with the use of a self-tacking jib, makes the sailing experience more enjoyable.

A large spinnaker chute along with a carbon fibre retractable bowsprit has been designed for easy hoists and drops of the A Symmetric spinnaker.  

Any excess water is shipped through chute drains straight out of the transom.

The Keel and foil

The VX One uses an anodized, extruded-aluminium, weighted keel which provides excellent shape and durability.

The lifting keel, which is raised using the main halyard, means that the VX One can be launched, recovered and trailed on a combi trailer.

The rudder is a high-performance profile Carbon-Glass rudder.

The Rig and sails

The clear coated carbon fibre tubes are made by CST. The spars are assembled by Mackay Boats.

The sail wardrope includes a large mainsail, self-tacking jib and a A-symmetric spinnaker. The VX One Class rules permits a choice of sailmakers to make the sails.

VX One Success

What colour options do you offer?

The boats are all the same colour with a white hull and light grey deck. 

Boats can be customized with the non-skid inside the cockpit.

What can be customised?

The boats are all built to a strict One Design rule. 

This restricts what can be changed, although there is the ability to personalize the non-skid arrangement on the boat.

Helpful tips to get going with the VX ONE

Are you sure you want to change currency.

The VX One is an exciting One Design sports boat allowing 2 or 3 people to sail in a fun and competitive fleet.  With a single line asymmetric spinnaker, self tacking jib, weighted keel and GNAV, the VX One is spacious, stable and simple to sail whilst still providing a high performance ride and great competition.

Click here for class rules.

GNAV (above boom Vang)

Self tacking jib on Harken radial track

Recessed Harken jib furler

Large mouth spinnaker shute

Single line spinnaker halyard/ retrieval/ pole launcher

Clear coated carbon mast by Southern Spars (NZL)

Clear coated carbon spinnaker pole

Clear coated carbon boom

Simple, uncluttered cockpit

Extruded and anodized aluminum keel / centre board with weighted keel bulb

High performance profile carbon-fibre glass rudder

Simple rig controls for set and forget rig tuning

Storage for safety equipment and gear

No paid professional programs at  VX One  level*

All sailors welcome.  No owner-driver restrictions.

Specifications

LOA: 19′/5.79m

LWL: 18.83′/5.74m

Beam: 7.17′/2.19m

SA Main + Jib: 215 sq ft./19.97 sq m.

SA Gennaker: 280 sq ft./26 sq m.

Draft, keel down: 4.33′/1.32m

Keel bulb: 61kg

Crew weight: No restriction.  Generally sailed between 180 and 260kg (2-3 person)

Boat weight: 255kg (includes spars, foils, running and standing rigging and permanent fixtures, does not include sails)

Upcoming Events

Royal Brighton Yacht Club

   EVENT PAGE

Christies Sailing Club

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

The Worldwide Leader in Sailmaking

• Sail Care & Repair
• Sailing Gear
• Find A Loft
• Sail Finder
• Custom Sails
• One Design Sails
• Flying Sails
• New Sail Quote
• 3Di Technology
• Helix Technology
• Sail Design
• AEROTECH Spinnaker Cloth
• NPL RENEW Sustainable Sailcloth
• Sailcloth & Material Guide
• Polo Shirts
• Sweaters & Cardigans
• Sweatshirts & Hoodies
• Accessories
• Shop by look
• Mid & Baselayers
• Deckwear & Footwear
• Luggage & Accessories
• Fall Winter '24
• Slowear x North Sails
• Scalpers + North Sails
• Les Voiles de Saint Tropez
• North Sails x 37th America's Cup
• 727 Sailbags
• T-shirts & Tops
• Sailor Jacket
• Sustainability
• North Sails Blog
• Loft 57 : North Sails Podcast
• Sail Like A Girl
• North Sails + Scalpers
• 37th America's Cup
• Icon Sailor Jacket
• Our Locations
• Certified B Corporation
• North Foils
• North Kiteboarding
• North Windsurfing

SAIL FINDER

SAILING GEAR

COLLECTIONS & COLLAB

COLLECTIONS

WE ARE NORTH SAILS

ACTION SPORTS

Popular Search Terms

Organic cotton

Scuba fleece

Drawstring hood

Utility pocket

Stand collar

Sorry, no results for ""

Subscription

Welcome aboard.

We want to make our emails as relevant as possible for you.

Interests saved

Something went wrong, please try again

Welcome to North Sails

Stay up to date with the latest North Sails news.

Receive a 10% discount code for your first apparel order. Excludes sails and SUP’s. See our Terms and Conditions .

Yes, I agree to the terms of use and privacy policy.

VX ONE TUNING GUIDE

This guide for the VX One has been developed through extensive testing, tuning, and practical racing experience by some of the top sailors in the country. New changes in the class and developments in sailcloth and sail design technology continue to bring about improvements in the VX One’s performance, and North Sails is an important part of these innovations.

While we can’t guarantee you immediate victory on the race course by following this guide, we can assure you that you’ll be taking a big step in the right direction!

Step Position

The mast butt should be in the pin the 3rd hole from the aft end. Make sure you are in compliance with class rule: C.9.3

Mast Centering

To aid in centering the mast laterally in the boat, place a pencil mark just in front of the shrouds on one side of the shear line. Measure from that mark to the front of the boat and make a mark the same distance from the bow on the opposite side of the boat. Then hoist a tape measure on the jib halyard and measure to these pencil marks. Adjust the upper shroud lengths correspondingly on each side of the boat until the mast is centered. Be sure to adjust the intermediate shrouds as well, maintaining a straight mast (sighted up the back of the mast).

Base Mast Tune Setup

To set the base rig tune, use a PT-1 Loos Tension Gauge to check tensions on the cap shrouds and intermediates. First adjust the uppers to 28 on the tension gauge. (The check stay should be slack throughout the cap and intermediate shroud setup process.) Then set the intermediate shrouds to 11. (Be sure to go back and double check the uppers and then the intermediates in the process because they will both change when you tension or de-tension one of them.) Finally, once the uppers and intermediates are set, tension the check stays with the tension gauge on the intermediate shroud. You are looking to tension the check stays until they start to affect the tension gauge reading on the intermediate shroud. If you measure the check stays with the tension gauge once they are set, they should register about a 6.

Check that you have developed the proper pre-bend in the mast (positive bend) by pulling the main halyard taut to the gooseneck. The distance between the back of the mast and the main halyard at the spreaders should be close to 2.25”.

Adjusting the Rig

For lighter winds, you need to loosen your rig tension to allow for more headstay sag, which will create a more powerful jib. The lightest wind settings should be 2 steps down on the tuning chart at the end of this tuning guide. This chart generally follows a 2:1 ratio of turns for the caps: intermediates.

In heavier winds (above 19 knots), much more tension is needed to maintain proper forestay sag and mast bend. In the 19-20 knot breeze range, the upper shrouds should be tensioned to 3-4 steps up on the chart. Note that the 2:1 ratio shifts here to a 1:1 ratio.

ON THE WATER

Tuning references.

The visual method given here is our suggested way to set your shroud tension for all crew weights and in all wave and breeze conditions. We feel that it is not only a relatively simple technique to use, but also the most accurate way to achieve proper and consistent rig setup in the VX One.

Set your rig tension so that the leeward upper shroud just starts to appear slack – not sloppy, but just not taut. Start out close to the upper shroud tension suggested in the chart below for your best guess of the present wind velocity. When sailing upwind under proper sail trim, watch the leeward upper shroud, and if it has a great deal of “wiggle” (more than a ½” back and forth), tighten both sides equally until the leeward upper is again just starting to go slack. If the breeze lightens, or you start out too tight (no wiggle at all), back off both uppers equally until a slight wiggle just appears.

The intermediate shroud tension is checked by trimming the main and jib to the proper position upwind and looking up at the main. Sheet the main about a 3-5 clicks of the mainsheet block tighter than what your normal sailing position should be. If the intermediate shrouds and the check stays are correct, you should see overbend wrinkles in the main that start just below the spreaders and go towards the clew. If the wrinkles start above the spreaders, your intermediates are too loose. If they start well below the spreaders, your intermediates are too tight. The wrinkles should extend from the luff of the sail just above the check stays about 50% of the way back towards the clew. If they extend farther than that, your check stays and intermediates are too loose. If they extend only 30-40% of the way back, your check stays and intermediates are too tight. In full cunningham conditions, it may be hard to see the overbend wrinkles, so try letting the cunningham off a little to get an idea of where the wrinkles are.

Trim the mainsheet hard enough to make the top batten parallel to the boom. You can check this by sighting from underneath the boom on a lateral plane. Once you’ve accelerated and you want to point higher, trim harder to cock the top batten slightly to windward. We generally recommend sailing with the top leech telltale stalling 75% of the time. In flat water, you can trim harder, but in light air and choppy water, you’ll need to ease the mainsheet ( there should be no vang) to twist off the top of the main so that the top batten is eased open about 5-7 degrees from parallel. In heavy air, the mainsheet is the gas pedal. It isn’t important to keep it in tight and stall the telltale; it is more important to use it to control the boat’s heel angle. If you are heeling more than 5 degrees, ease the main, flatten the boat, and then trim back in. At times, you might find that the main is over the leeward corner of the boat. That’s OK if the boat is flat.

Downwind, you are looking to once again be using the main to keep the heel of the boat correct. In light air, you want to have the main eased enough so that with any more ease it would be luffing because of the spinnaker. When in doubt, tighter is better than looser, and you should always feel pressure in the mainsheet.

You can use the outhaul for power in the bottom of the mainsail because outhaul tension primarily adjusts the shape in the main’s   intermediate   third. A looser outhaul increases lower leech “hook” and adds fullness. This can aid pointing ability as well as increasing power. A tighter outhaul flattens the lower sections of the main, which helps to minimize windward helm and reduce drag. Remember that in flat water and light winds a flatter sail is fast, whereas in chop, a slightly fuller sail is needed to give the necessary punch.

A good guide for tensioning the outhaul is the distance between the side of the boom and the middle of the foot of the main. In heavy winds, the outhaul should be tensioned tightly so that there are about 1-2 finger widths between the boom and the middle of the foot of the main. In choppy conditions or when power is needed, ease the outhaul so that there is about a 3-finger gap. Never have the outhaul any looser except while sailing downwind, at which time it can be eased so that there is about a 4-4.5 finger gap.

The main cunningham is used to position the draft of the sail. Aim to keep the maximum draft point close to 40-50% back in the sail (sighting from luff to leech). In up to 10 knots of breeze, you need very little cunningham. In 11-12 knots, use just enough cunningham to remove many of the wrinkles in the main. And as winds rise above 12 knots, progressively tighten the cunningham to remove all the sail’s wrinkles (a smooth luff) and maintain proper draft position in the top of the sail.

Downwind, the cunningham should be off completely.

The boom vang is a critical control in heavy air because it helps to hold the boom down and maintain leech tension when the main needs to be eased. This helps the boat point upwind. In light air, the vang should be just snug until the boat is consistently heeling more than 5-7 degrees. As soon as you start having to ease the main, the vang should be pulled tighter and tighter the farther out the boom is off centerline. Max vang occurs when you can’t pull it any farther and the boat is heeling more than 5-7 degrees with the boom over the boat’s leeward corner.

Downwind, the vang should be eased so that the top of the sail is twisted and the leech telltales are flying 100% of the time. The windier it is, the more vang you should be easing downwind.

Proper jib trim upwind has one of the greatest effects on speed and pointing. Usually, the biggest mistake most VX One sailors make is over trimming the jib sheet. This sheet is normally trimmed so that the middle batten is straight aft parallel to the boat’s centerline. In light wind and/or sloppy conditions, ease the jib sheet so that the middle batten is angled outboard 5-7 degrees. Also, in breezy conditions, ease the sheet for more twist in the leech. Generally speaking, the jib leech telltale should be flying but just about to start stalling. In the bigger breeze, however, this telltale will be less likely to stall because the jib is eased. Note that trimming the jib harder for short periods of time (where the middle batten is slightly hooked to windward of parallel to the centerline) is only effective in “ideal” boat-speed conditions (medium winds and flat water) because it narrows your steering “groove.” In heavier air, if the main is luffing in order to keep the boat flat, the cause generally isn’t from the wind coming across the boat, it is from the wind coming off the jib. If the solution of dropping the jib car to leeward in the puff isn’t effective at stopping the main from luffing because the car is consistently more than 75% of the way down the track, the jib sheet might have to be eased slightly to twist the top of the jib open. Once the main is trimmed back in, the jib sheet can be trimmed in as well.

Downwind, the jib should be furled in only the lightest of breeze. As soon as you are moving well, the jib can be out with the sheet eased. A good rule of thumb is to trim the jib sheet so that the middle telltales on the luff of the jib are trimmed correctly. This means that the bottom ones might be too tight, and the top might be luffing, but the trim is optimal.

The jib halyard tension is key in the VX One and should be played constantly, especially in puffy conditions. For light and medium breeze conditions, the jib halyard should be set so that slight wrinkles emanate from the luff, extending back no farther than the first radial panel in the sail. As the breeze increases, these wrinkles will become less and less visible as the halyard tension is increased, and they should disappear at about the same time you are halfway into the vang. As the wind continues to increase, use more and more jib halyard tension. To get maximum tension for survival conditions, turn the boat downwind, and the middle crew should then pull the jib halyard as hard as possible.

The starting jib clew position (called the “standard position”) should be the 4th hole from the bottom of the clewboard. In lighter air, you might use the 5th hole from the bottom, and in heavier wind, you might use the 3rd hole. The clewboard position is not the main driver of jib shape as much as the sheet tension is.

The jib car should be high enough on the track that in normal sailing conditions, with the jib trimmed correctly, you just start to see a little bit of backwind on the luff of the main. This is about 5-7 degrees from centerline for light-air conditions. In heavier wind conditions, you should move the car down 2-3 degrees more to stop the backwind, but you should also rely on easing the jib sheet. Sailing with the jib car all the way down for prolonged periods of time to stop backwind in the front of the main is not fast, but it can be dropped to leeward for 1-2 seconds to stop the main from luffing and recover from major puffs.

SPINNAKER TRIM

The general rule of spinnaker sheet trim is to allow 3-4” of curl in the luff of the spinnaker. In light air, the sheet should be being played constantly. In heavier air, you will find that the sheet is more constant, and the curl is dictated by the driver turning the boat up and down to make the heel angle correct.

The most important trimming technique in light air is to concentrate on good communication between the helmsman and the spinnaker trimmer. The goal is to sail as low as possible while still maintaining good pressure on the kite and good boat speed. When the puff hits and the boat accelerates, use that speed to head further downwind. Once the puff subsides, you will have to turn back up to power the boat back up. An easy way to monitor this is to assess the tension on the sheet. It’s important not to sail too high, which translates into longer distances, but also don’t sail too low, or you’ll sacrifice boat speed. It is important to remember that the fastest way to sail downwind in a VX One is with a constant apparent wind angle. This means that when the boat is going faster, the true wind can be further behind the boat, and when the boat is going slower, the true wind must be further forward on the boat.

GENERAL BOAT TRIM

The fastest way to sail the VX One upwind is with 5-7 degrees of leeward heel and with the windward jib luff telltale at 45 degrees up while the leeward luff one is streaming straight back. In light air, you might have both telltales streaming, while in heavy air, you might have the windward one lifting straight up, but no more than that. Keeping the boat moving fast is critical because that makes the foils work more efficiently and translates into height. The harder you hike, the faster you go, but at some point you just can’t hike any harder. That’s the time when you will have to start easing the sails to keep the boat flat. Once again, the temptation may be to pinch to keep the boat flat, but that’s simply not fast! Even at the same point as the boats around you, you can still be slower than they are. Match their speed before you match their angle. With increased boat speed will come more lift from the foils and therefore more point.

Downwind, you should sail the boat with 5-10 degrees of heel. Be very conscious of crew weight placement fore and aft. In light air, you should try to sit far enough forward that there is smooth water coming out from behind the boat, not gurgling water. In heavy air, you should sit farther back once you’re on a plane to keep the bow out of the water. You are looking for the bow to be consistently 4-6” out of the water in heavy breeze.

The VX One is a blast to sail. So as always, don’t forget to have a blast out on the water!

Note: This tuning is for the boats with Southern Spars masts. For the boats with CST masts, the base tune for the cap shrouds is 30 on the PT-1. Everything else remains the same.

CREW WEIGHT: 430 lbs

ANGLE CAR POSITION

GET IN TOUCH

REQUEST A QUOTE

BROWSE ALL SAILS

FIND YOUR SAIL

Latest north sails news.

19 September

OFF-SEASON AND WINTER SAIL CARE GUIDE

17 September

FOUR KEY COMPONENTS TO OFF-SEASON SAIL CARE

Offshore sailing guide.

• Refresh page