Topping , lift interferes with the top baton on my new sail . I don't recall this being a problem with my other older main sail. Is this a normal occurrence. Thanks
Topping lift
- Thread starter brad minda
- Start date
It can be depending on the cut of the sail. If the sailmaker cut the roach too large or if the hoist is too high then the batten may hit the sail.
There are a couple of possible solutions, have the sail maker cut the sail so it doesn't interfere with the topping lift. Or, add a Flicker, which is a flexible stick attached to the mast head that holds the topping lift out and away from the sail.
It is time to call the sailmaker and have them out on your boat and talk to them about the problem and possible solutions.
There are a couple of possible solutions, have the sail maker cut the sail so it doesn't interfere with the topping lift. Or, add a Flicker, which is a flexible stick attached to the mast head that holds the topping lift out and away from the sail.
It is time to call the sailmaker and have them out on your boat and talk to them about the problem and possible solutions.
Usually the topping lift should be slack when sailing, so it shouldn’t be in the way. You should be able to slack it enough that it can droop behind the leeward side of the battens. I’ve seen the flickers @dlochner mentioned, but usually for backstays on sportier rigs, to keep the backstay from getting caught when it’s a little slack. Unless you also suddenly have too much weather helm, or the sail is interfering with the backstay, I wouldn’t ask to have the roach reduced- that’ll just cut down on power.
It can only interfere if it is under tension. When it is slack it will just drape over the batten. I have the topping lift on my C30 set so that it is just slack with a fully hoisted sail so that I never need to screw with it.
The only exception to a slack topping lift is in a race with extream low wind [0-2 kts]. In those conditions, the weight of the boom will close the leach of the sail so you can get benifit from the topping lift lifting the boom a bit.
The only exception to a slack topping lift is in a race with extream low wind [0-2 kts]. In those conditions, the weight of the boom will close the leach of the sail so you can get benifit from the topping lift lifting the boom a bit.
Time for a rigid vang. One of the very best upgrades for enhancing your sailing experience. The best, of course, is an autopilot.
A flicker is for the backstay, not the topping lift, and if your mainsail is hanging up on the backstay, then you definitely have a problem with the sail cut since on a masthead rig like your Catalina 30 the mainsail has a pretty narrow aspect ratio. But you said it was the topping lift, so let's assume the simple answer. On my Catalina 27, which has basically the same configuration only less sail area, the topping lift hangs up on the top batten if it's too tight. I made mine adjustable at the boom end precisely to prevent that (and to raise it for sitting at anchor and to help reefing). As other have said, slacken the topping lift and this problem goes away. I have found that adjusting mine to be just a few degrees below horizontal is a good sweet spot so that I don't need to re-adjust when sailing.
Last edited:
Brad,
I agree with the others who say to slacken the topping lift.
I had a new mainsail built 3 yrs ago. If I don't slacken the TL, in lighter winds it may clip the uppermost batten.
The sail maker said he designed the sail with the most roach he could fit in the space and in almost all conditions a slack TL will not touch the batten. If it does it will quickly flip over it. He was right.
I keep a watch for any wear caused by the TL and haven't seen any in the 3 seasons.
While there are different setups for an adjustable TL, I went with adding a 4th block in the masthead. When I had the mast down during delivery I found an unused space in the masthead. I added a block and ran the line back to the cockpit.
That makes it easy to adjust the TL for holding the boom above our heads when the sail is down and to slack it when the sail is up. I have thread markers in the line showing me where to set the line for slack or lifting the boom.
I agree with the others who say to slacken the topping lift.
I had a new mainsail built 3 yrs ago. If I don't slacken the TL, in lighter winds it may clip the uppermost batten.
The sail maker said he designed the sail with the most roach he could fit in the space and in almost all conditions a slack TL will not touch the batten. If it does it will quickly flip over it. He was right.
I keep a watch for any wear caused by the TL and haven't seen any in the 3 seasons.
While there are different setups for an adjustable TL, I went with adding a 4th block in the masthead. When I had the mast down during delivery I found an unused space in the masthead. I added a block and ran the line back to the cockpit.
That makes it easy to adjust the TL for holding the boom above our heads when the sail is down and to slack it when the sail is up. I have thread markers in the line showing me where to set the line for slack or lifting the boom.
If it Wasn’t a problem with the old sail, have the sailmaker cut the new sail to match the roach of the original sail, especially if you’re not a racer. Otherwise, you’re going to have to adjust the topping lift forever.
Not true on my C30 TR/BS. I adjust my topping lift at the beginning of the season when I hoist the sail for the first time of the year. I raise the sail, ease the topping lift until it is just sagging a bit with a fully tightened main sheet and I am done. With this setting, the TL is loose so that it does not hang up on the batten but holds the boom at 6'-2" above the cockpit sole when I drop the main.