I have recently acquired new sails that came with leach and foot lines in the main and Genoa. Instinct tells me to have all four lines loose when close hauled, all four tight on a run and in the middle on a beam reach when racing. However it is all guess work on my part. Any expert opinions will be welcomed. Norm.
leach and foot lines
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Your best bet
is to ask your sail maker. Or, post the question on the sail trim forum. As for myself, I keep them just tight enough to prevent the leech and foot from flapping/vibrating.
is to ask your sail maker. Or, post the question on the sail trim forum. As for myself, I keep them just tight enough to prevent the leech and foot from flapping/vibrating.
Doesnt matter whether beating of running .....
If the leech or foot is 'fluttering' simply tighten the leech/foot cord until the fluttering stops. On the leech, usually only the leech at one 'panel' between battens will be 'fluttering' ... just apply cord tension until the leech becomes 'quiet'. Usually once 'set', the cords dont have to be readjusted .... unless you see the sectional fluttering (tighten the cord) or you see a distinct 'hook' to the shape of the leech indicating that the cord is too tight. Without leech cords that fluttering will eventually severely weaken the fabric and destroy the filler in a woven dacron sail, etc. The probably BEST leech cord arrangement is an 'over-the-top' arrangement: leech cord along the leech to a cheek block on the head board and then back down along the luff/mast (or headsail foil) to the tack. This makes it SO easy to adjust the cord from the base of the mast .... instead of hanging overboard with one foot on the rail, one in mid air, your body hanging onto the boom with one hand while the other cant quite perform the 'right' adjustment when the boom is way 'outboard'. hope this helps.
If the leech or foot is 'fluttering' simply tighten the leech/foot cord until the fluttering stops. On the leech, usually only the leech at one 'panel' between battens will be 'fluttering' ... just apply cord tension until the leech becomes 'quiet'. Usually once 'set', the cords dont have to be readjusted .... unless you see the sectional fluttering (tighten the cord) or you see a distinct 'hook' to the shape of the leech indicating that the cord is too tight. Without leech cords that fluttering will eventually severely weaken the fabric and destroy the filler in a woven dacron sail, etc. The probably BEST leech cord arrangement is an 'over-the-top' arrangement: leech cord along the leech to a cheek block on the head board and then back down along the luff/mast (or headsail foil) to the tack. This makes it SO easy to adjust the cord from the base of the mast .... instead of hanging overboard with one foot on the rail, one in mid air, your body hanging onto the boom with one hand while the other cant quite perform the 'right' adjustment when the boom is way 'outboard'. hope this helps.
To make it easier to set the leech
RichH, you know you could always sheet the main in, set the leech cord, and then retrim the main. This prevents the overwater aerial ballet.
RichH, you know you could always sheet the main in, set the leech cord, and then retrim the main. This prevents the overwater aerial ballet.
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