Asymmetrcial spinnaker tell tales?

Nodak7 · Feb 10, 2012

Kermit said:
I was surfing around the net looking at articles and videos on asymmetrical spinnakers and came across this article. http://www.ianshortsails.com.au/sail.trim/asymmetric.trim.analysis/ The fella refers to tell tales several times. It never occurred to me to add tell tales to mine. Do y'all have them on yours?

Thanks!

Kermit, no I do not have telltales on my Asym. Have never seen one with them. However, he does tell us where to put them. "Where should the telltales be on asymmetrics? WE put ours about 300- 400 mmm from the luff at ¼, ½, and ¾ heightand this allows you to see the airflow over both sides of the sail." I might have to consider putting them on and seeing what happens.

I looked carefully at all the pictures and cannot see Telltale on any of the sails.

Relentless · Feb 10, 2012

I've got them, they also help with getting the luff tension correct. Instead of watching where the luff curl is, just match up the top and bottom tell

Cayennita · Feb 11, 2012

I have them on mine and are very important in getting the trim and sail angle just right. very noticeably on the large racing boats. Lots of those pictures available. Stearns, the j dealer in the Michigan area will be holding a clinic on just that subject.

RichH · Feb 11, 2012

Tales are most useful on the leech to ensure that the flow is equal on both sides of the leech ... to maximize aerodynamic flow. and to avoid having the leech being 'over-trimmed' or 'trimmed in too far' ..... especially in 'light winds'.

Tales on the luff indeed will aid in setting the proper/optimal height of the tack from the deck.

I use 2 sets of tales (one set high and one set low) on leech and luff ... and they are wrinkled up mylar tape from old micro-cassettes.

The tales when racing will get you 'close' to optimum tack height (from the deck) and trim; however, once the tales are apparently flying perfectly further trim/height adjustment is needed and thats where the speedo then becomes the most important - tweak in/out, up/down while carefully watching the speedo - the obvious optimum will be at max. speed attained. The max. reading on the speedo is what really counts when racing.

Ditto on asymmetrical spinnakers when on a broad reach and above.
A long tell-tale on the symmetric spinn pole topping lift (bridle) is probably most important when below a broad reach & will help keep the 'axis' of the spinn @ 90° to the wind for max. sail area exposed for maximum 'drag'.

Nodak7 · Feb 13, 2012

RichH said:
Tales are most useful on the leech to ensure that the flow is equal on both sides of the leech ... to maximize aerodynamic flow. and to avoid having the leech being 'over-trimmed' or 'trimmed in too far' ..... especially in 'light winds'.

Tales on the luff indeed will aid in setting the proper/optimal height of the tack from the deck.

I use 2 sets of tales (one set high and one set low) on leech and luff ... and they are wrinkled up mylar tape from old micro-cassettes.

The tales when racing will get you 'close' to optimum tack height (from the deck) and trim; however, once the tales are apparently flying perfectly further trim/height adjustment is needed and thats where the speedo then becomes the most important - tweak in/out, up/down while carefully watching the speedo - the obvious optimum will be at max. speed attained. The max. reading on the speedo is what really counts when racing.

Ditto on asymmetrical spinnakers when on a broad reach and above.
A long tell-tale on the symmetric spinn pole topping lift (bridle) is probably most important when below a broad reach & will help keep the 'axis' of the spinn @ 90° to the wind for max. sail area exposed for maximum 'drag'.

Is there a picture available of what you are describing and how thew are placed on the asym?

Les · Feb 13, 2012

Perhaps I'm very old fashion. I don't use tell tails on my spinnakers (except for the whisker pole when flying a regular chute). I raise the asymmetrical chute and get some air in it. Then raise the tack until it begins to curl. Back down slightly. Then let the sheet out until it curls once again. This time give it a yank on the sheet to break the curl on the leading edge. Got back to the tack...etc. Your tack should be slightly lower then the clue.

If racing I would have the spinnaker person constantly playing tack line and sheet. When cruising by myself I normally get the tack locked down and just play the sheet. Fun time.