There are many variables involved in how well any sailboat points to windward, and I'm sure there are many others on this forum who are much more knowledgeable on the subject than I am, but here are a few things that I have found that have helped, in no particular order:
- Boom vang. The more powerful the better.
- Positive downhauls on both rudder and CB, with auto-release on both in case of UUO (Unidentified Underwater Object) strike. (see my photos in the gallery for details).
- Ability to reef the main quickly.
- Barber inhaulers for the jib sheets.
I'm sure there are others I'm not thinking about at the moment. In any case, if you have "blown out" sails, you will find it very hard to point effectively. The first step towards being able to sail the boat correctly is a decent set of sails. They're not cheap, but once you have good fabric flying, you will notice the improvement right away!