Loose footed Mail
- Thread starter Tom23400
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In light winds I will often control the main sail with the outhaul instead of the mainsheet. By slacking off on the outhaul just 2-3 inches you will see the sail take on more of a wing shape that more closely matches the shape of the jib (allow the foot of the main to have the same draft and curve as the half way up point). As wind increases tighten up on the outhaul to flatten the sail and reduce weatherhelm.
In light winds I will often control the main sail with the outhaul instead of the mainsheet. By slacking off on the outhaul just 2-3 inches you will see the sail take on more of a wing shape that more closely matches the shape of the jib (allow the foot of the main to have the same draft and curve as the half way up point). As wind increases tighten up on the outhaul to flatten the sail and reduce weatherhelm.
outhaul adjustmennt
Hello, The outhaul (along with the main halyard and / or cunningham) is used to control the draft of the sail. In light wind you need more draft to provide the sail with the most power. So ease the outhaul until the sail has nice round shape. As the wind picks up and the boat becomes overpowered (excessive heel and weather helm) you need to reduce the power in the sails. By tensioning the outhaul (and main halyard) you reduce the draft and power in the sail, and the boat should heel less and have less weather helm. On my boat, when the wind is 5 kts or less I have a very loose outhaul. I tighten it when the wind is between 5 and 10 kts, and make it pretty tight when the wind is 15 kts. Lastly, the use of the outhaul doesn't change if you main is loose foot or not. Good luck, Barry
Hello, The outhaul (along with the main halyard and / or cunningham) is used to control the draft of the sail. In light wind you need more draft to provide the sail with the most power. So ease the outhaul until the sail has nice round shape. As the wind picks up and the boat becomes overpowered (excessive heel and weather helm) you need to reduce the power in the sails. By tensioning the outhaul (and main halyard) you reduce the draft and power in the sail, and the boat should heel less and have less weather helm. On my boat, when the wind is 5 kts or less I have a very loose outhaul. I tighten it when the wind is between 5 and 10 kts, and make it pretty tight when the wind is 15 kts. Lastly, the use of the outhaul doesn't change if you main is loose foot or not. Good luck, Barry
Different approach......
The key to setting/adjusting the outhaul is an accurate knotmeter !!!!! To simplify outhaul setting/adjustment (usually on a closehauled or 'high' sailing angle - so you are sure that there is 'aerodynamic flow' over the sails) ..... Hold your course, slowly tighten or ease the outhaul while watching the speedo (- ignore the increase or decrease of the amount of heel). Adjust in or out until you get the 'maximum' speedo reading. Therefore the maximum amount of speed will be dependent on 'maximizing the amount of draft' ... and that is controlled by the outhaul. (Note for the advanced racer-types: maximize to your VMG function instead or in addition to the speedo ... as more draft causes more heel which causes more 'skid' to leeward which decreases VMG) Tips (or 'starting points') of outhaul adjustment. 1. For 'power sailing' ... ie. sailing in or against higher than normal waves or 'steep chop' you will find that you need 'more' draft, as more draft equates to more 'power' to punch through. So, when its choppy, etc. start with an eased outhaul and slowly tighten while you watch the speedo. 2. For fast / speed sailing .... (& sailing in light winds !!) you need LESS draft and a flatter sail to get to maximum speed. So, when you want to sail 'fast' (normal conditions / flat water), start with a fully tight outhaul and slowly ease while you watch the speedo. Why FLAT sails for light winds? Light winds dont have much energy in them; with less energy the airstreams will easily 'separate' from a sail and reduce 'drive' when the flow becomes 'detatched' (at the aerodynamic boundary layer). At low energy states, the bigger the curve (draft) the airstream has to follow the greater the chance of a separation. A 'separation stall' is invisible to the eyes as it doesnt cause the sail to 'shake' as does with a 'stagnation stall'. With light winds if you have full drafted sails you'll probably have constant separation stalls on the sails AND you'll hardly ever increase the speed (because youre stuck in 2nd gear) to where the 'apparent wind' will increase to help keep you going (high gear). If you have a FULL set of tell tales, the need for flat sails in 'light' winds will become very obvious. 4. For survival condition ....depower the sail by increasingly tensioning the outhaul to reduce draft --- up to the point that the sail has almost become 'board flat'; if that doesnt de-power enough then its time to 'reef', etc. FULL draft sails for power (2nd gear in an auto), FLAT sails for speed (high gear in an auto) .... FLAT sails for high winds and light winds !!!!! hope this helps.
The key to setting/adjusting the outhaul is an accurate knotmeter !!!!! To simplify outhaul setting/adjustment (usually on a closehauled or 'high' sailing angle - so you are sure that there is 'aerodynamic flow' over the sails) ..... Hold your course, slowly tighten or ease the outhaul while watching the speedo (- ignore the increase or decrease of the amount of heel). Adjust in or out until you get the 'maximum' speedo reading. Therefore the maximum amount of speed will be dependent on 'maximizing the amount of draft' ... and that is controlled by the outhaul. (Note for the advanced racer-types: maximize to your VMG function instead or in addition to the speedo ... as more draft causes more heel which causes more 'skid' to leeward which decreases VMG) Tips (or 'starting points') of outhaul adjustment. 1. For 'power sailing' ... ie. sailing in or against higher than normal waves or 'steep chop' you will find that you need 'more' draft, as more draft equates to more 'power' to punch through. So, when its choppy, etc. start with an eased outhaul and slowly tighten while you watch the speedo. 2. For fast / speed sailing .... (& sailing in light winds !!) you need LESS draft and a flatter sail to get to maximum speed. So, when you want to sail 'fast' (normal conditions / flat water), start with a fully tight outhaul and slowly ease while you watch the speedo. Why FLAT sails for light winds? Light winds dont have much energy in them; with less energy the airstreams will easily 'separate' from a sail and reduce 'drive' when the flow becomes 'detatched' (at the aerodynamic boundary layer). At low energy states, the bigger the curve (draft) the airstream has to follow the greater the chance of a separation. A 'separation stall' is invisible to the eyes as it doesnt cause the sail to 'shake' as does with a 'stagnation stall'. With light winds if you have full drafted sails you'll probably have constant separation stalls on the sails AND you'll hardly ever increase the speed (because youre stuck in 2nd gear) to where the 'apparent wind' will increase to help keep you going (high gear). If you have a FULL set of tell tales, the need for flat sails in 'light' winds will become very obvious. 4. For survival condition ....depower the sail by increasingly tensioning the outhaul to reduce draft --- up to the point that the sail has almost become 'board flat'; if that doesnt de-power enough then its time to 'reef', etc. FULL draft sails for power (2nd gear in an auto), FLAT sails for speed (high gear in an auto) .... FLAT sails for high winds and light winds !!!!! hope this helps.
FULL set of tell tales
RichH mentions a full set of tell tales. Could you explain this and its advantages. Thanks
RichH mentions a full set of tell tales. Could you explain this and its advantages. Thanks
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