Even though I don't have a "modern" boat, both being 70's era classics, am I allowed to call my barber haulers by the jazzier name? heh, heh.
Cunningham
- Thread starter Cmp1110
- Start date
Cmp1110: To me the most important thing about sail trim and the resultant boat control is knowing what's happening when you push/pull a sail trim control. I can't explain it scientifically like some of the mates on this forum but, in common seaman (which I am) terms, as the wind pipes up it pushes the draft position past 50% and is powering up the mainsail - and the jib.
The farther it pushes the DP past 50%, the more powerful the mainsail & jib become. With the use of the Cunningham (halyard), boom vang, mainsheet and outhaul on the mainsail and the fairleads and halyard (jib cunningham) on the jib you can move the draft position forward to under 50%, which is a more forgiving sail trim adjustment.
The other day I spoke with a sailor from New Zealand (the miracle of the internet). He told me he couldn't see DP on his sail and could I describe it. This is like teaching an individual to play the flute over the telephone!! Here's what I told him to do. Cup your right hand. Check out the line that runs vertically where your fingers touch your hand -- that's DRAFT POSITION. He then asked if I could describe TWIST. Form your right hand as if you were saluting. Now turn your fingers only to the right. That's twist. The more you turn your finger, the more you open up the top of the sail thus spilling power. The more you turn your fingers to form the salute, the more powerful (flatter) you make the sail.
Hmmm.... Then I think I'll stick with something truly naval/navel and call one the "innie" and the other the "outie".
A sail designed for Cunningham use, needs a Cunningham.
A sail designed for a Cunningham may have the bolt rope only seized at tack and head.
If one tries to use halyard or gooseneck downhaul, they can only harden to the limit of the bolt rope length. The Cunningham will tension the sail cloth, not just the bolt rope.
If it is designed with unseized bolt rope, and for Cunningham use, the Cunningham flattens the sail as intended for windward performance. Without the Cunningham applied, the sail is only suited for downwind performance.
We had a brand new sail that could not be sailed well at all, without using the Cunningham. No amount of halyard tension would do what the Cunningham did.
A sail designed for a Cunningham may have the bolt rope only seized at tack and head.
If one tries to use halyard or gooseneck downhaul, they can only harden to the limit of the bolt rope length. The Cunningham will tension the sail cloth, not just the bolt rope.
If it is designed with unseized bolt rope, and for Cunningham use, the Cunningham flattens the sail as intended for windward performance. Without the Cunningham applied, the sail is only suited for downwind performance.
We had a brand new sail that could not be sailed well at all, without using the Cunningham. No amount of halyard tension would do what the Cunningham did.
