Beginners questions (new to Vega and sailing)

[fjonga]

Hi,

I found this (quite lively) forum while searching the net for Vega
information. Me and my friend just got a Vega to take care of (and
sail) for this summer and perhaps for the next summer as well. But the
problem for us is that we are complete beginners in both sailing and
Vega. We've sorted a bunch of issues out just by doing (trial and
error), but some things we just can't figure out. The biggest issue is
(now bare with me, English is not my native language and I certainly
do not know the right terms) how to attach the boom (?) to the rail
located in the box we sit in, especially how to attach the rope
"thingy" to the rail. Is it fixed attachment (does not move) or should
we be able to move (left - right) the point of attachment in the
rail. I'm trying to illustrate my poor knowledge of sailing vocabulary
with the ASCII picture below.

I
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I mast
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[groundhogyh]

I am not an expert either, but...

I think one thing you will need is a fiddle-block with cam.
There is another block (pulley thing) as well. One on the rail and one on the end of the boom.

The sheet (rope) goes back and fourth through both pulleys giving you more than 1:1 pull strength.

Start looking that up on the internet and you will probably come up with a diagram of the setup.

link:

http://www.magma.ca/~tanzer22/fig5.jpg

rb

 

[pjacobs55]

Hi Petsku,
I'll try to help you with your questions.
First, a little terminology to help you out:
You got the 'boom' right.
The 'rail' you mention is the traveler,
and the 'rope thingy' is the mainsheet.

So, with that sorted, here are a few links to pictures of my setup.

This picture shows the mainsheet where it is attached to the boom.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/sheet1.jpg

and this is where it attaches to the traveler.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/sheet2.jpg

And this is an overall picture of my setup.

http://www3.telus.net/sailing/sheet3.jpg

My setup has been modified so I can pull the 'car' (the little slide
on the traveler) either way using lines and pulleys. The original
setup has small 'stops' with clamping screws located either side of
the 'car' to prevent it from sliding.

The whole purpose of this traveler, car, and stops, is to allow minor
adjustments to sail shape. I suggest, while you are learning, to
simply leave the 'car' in the middle of the traveller all the time. I
suspect this is what most Vega cruisers do!

It would really help to have someone with you on your first sail who
knows a bit about sailing. I remember my first sail as if it were
yesterday. I made every mistake in the book, and invented a few new
ones as well. By the time I got back to the dock I was ready to sell
the boat to the first person who came along. It got a lot better
after that, and now I wonder at the magic of using wind, water, and
waves to move ones boat from place to place. Be careful, as sailing
quickly becomes an addiction.

You've chosen a very safe boat to start out with. Good luck next
Saturday!

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'