We have mid boom sheeting on our masthead rigged 42. Because of the location of the mainsheet traveller it seems like the vang is redundant. Any thoughts?
Boom Vang
- Thread starter Captn TJ
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Where is the boom when running down wind (or broad reaching)? It seems it would be well off to one side where the mainsheet can't pull down on it allowing the top of the sail to twist off, spilling the air. This is when the vang is needed. With the swept back spreaders the sail can touch them even though we don't (shouldn't) run the boom out too far. Again, the vang helps by getting that boom out just that much farther without rubbing the sail on the spreader tips and rigging.
Allan's right. The vang is also used for going upwind. We have mid-boom sheeting, too. A vang is one of the key sail shaping tools and is never redundant.
I have made the point in the past, however, that for those with end boom sheeting and, perhaps, small travelers at the transom, it is easier for those skippers to dump the mainsheet in a puff than their traveler. On my boat, and on your 42, dumping the traveler is much easier than dumping the mainsheet, because pulling in a lot of mainsheet is a LOT more work than just pulling the traveler back up.
Depending on wind strength, the vang on a broad reach can be used, as Allan says, to either tighten or open up the top of the sail, even if the traveler is all the way to windward.
I recommend two things:
1. Practice
2. Buy Don Guillette's Sail Trim Book and Chart - very good material.
I have made the point in the past, however, that for those with end boom sheeting and, perhaps, small travelers at the transom, it is easier for those skippers to dump the mainsheet in a puff than their traveler. On my boat, and on your 42, dumping the traveler is much easier than dumping the mainsheet, because pulling in a lot of mainsheet is a LOT more work than just pulling the traveler back up.
Depending on wind strength, the vang on a broad reach can be used, as Allan says, to either tighten or open up the top of the sail, even if the traveler is all the way to windward.
I recommend two things:
1. Practice
2. Buy Don Guillette's Sail Trim Book and Chart - very good material.
Move the block on the boom exactly in line with the main block on the boat. If you move the boom block further aft, you may not get a good feel of the sail.
Keep the kicker on the looser side on upwind. You may need the kicker on downwind.
hope this helps! )
Keep the kicker on the looser side on upwind. You may need the kicker on downwind.
hope this helps! )- Status