A recent thread concerning stretch has me wondering

[Ross]

When the wind is steady and the sails are trimmed just so sailing is a pure pleasure. But when the wind is puffy and you need to make constant small adjustments to accomodate the wind, would a bungee on the sheet act like springs on a car wheel and absorb the little bumps in the wind?

 

[sailingdog]

Very possibly...since that is how many sheet to tiller self-steering systems are often rigged.

 

[RichH]

Probably would work best on the traveller controls - the traveller opens and slightly depowers ('blades-out") the main ... which in turn automatically depowers the headsail. When gusty its always better to 'play' the traveller than the mainsheet or the jibsheets as it keeps you flat on your feet and the boat under better control. Works on lightweight planing boats and crabcrushers too.

 

[Rick D]

I Would Think It Would Reduce Drive...

...in that anyone who races tries to get as little stretch of their running rigging as possible.

 

[Ross]

...in that anyone who races tries to get as little stretch of their running rigging as possible.

That is precisely what I was aiming for, just as you ease up on the gas going down hill and add a little going up hill.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Traveler is the exception

...in that anyone who races tries to get as little stretch of their running rigging as possible.

Moving the traveler does not change the shape (and therefore efficiency) of the sail. In fact, easing the traveler helps to hold sail shape, because it eases stretching of the running rigging that does control shape - the halyard, sheet, vang and cunningham.

I think the problem with the shock cord is that it would move the traveler to far up in lower winds. But our traveler works on sliding stops, and I'll give the bungee solution a try next summer.

 

[BrianW]

Wind Bully

The previous owner of my Hunter 26 had a device called a Wind Bully. This device looks something like a cross between an automobile shock absorber and a small pneumatic door closer (see attached photo). It attaches inline between the mainsheet and mainsheet tackle. It supposed to be stiff enough to not extend out during normal wind, but will "stretch" out up to 8 inches during a sudden gust, then return back to its retracted position. When I bought the boat, the device was already damaged during a tropical storm while on the hard and was unusable. The company is no longer in business, but it sounded like a good idea. BrianW