pretty important
I consider the vang an important sail control, especially in heavy winds. By pulling down on the boom you reduce the the mainsail's draft and in doing so you can reduce heeling. This especially true on smaller boats like your 222 or my Catalina 25 because we tend to sheet out instead of playing the vang to ease the boat through puffs. If you sheet out without a vang, you not only change the angle of the sail to the wind, but you allow the boom the rise as the center of the sail fills, thus increasing draft. An increase in draft will increas the lift the sail produces (momentarily), pulling the rail further toward the water. Apply the vang, and the only thing that changes as you sheet out is the boom's angle relative to the boat. On dinghies, especially the Laser, you cannot sail effectively without a vang. Let out the mainsheet on a Laser to avoid dumping it, and if you don't have you vang on your going to go over even faster. As to what kind, lots of people have been sailing for a long time with a basic fiddleblock set up and a cleet. Take a look at the attachment points on your boat, then go to your local marine supplier, they'll be able to set you up. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
