I raced an E37 on SFBay in the '70s. Lots of fun.
From what I can remember:
- upwind. optimal heel around 12 - 15deg. You should be able to feel a groove in that range. Over 15deg feels fast but you are actually side-slipping (leeway). As I remember about 15kts over the deck (around 12 kts true) is where to reduce canvas. Might reduce earlier if cruising comfort (instead of speed) is the goal.
- downwind. Does not run well dead down wind. Even winged. Better to broad reach and jibe downwind. In a quartering sea or flukey wind the tail can swing resulting in accidental jibe. A preventer is a good idea.
- beam reach. Fast and exciting. As long as you can hold the tiller/wheel steady (lots of helm if sailing in a blow)
- beam reach with spinnaker. a hoot but you need an experienced helmsman and crew. and puts high stress on the standing rigging.
In general I remember the boat being lots of fun to sail.
Designed to race. So more demanding than the 29, 32, 35, 39 of the same era.
Hope you enjoy it. Let us all know how its goes.
--Steve