Rigging terminology

[Neil Franklin]

My boat has fittings for a boom vang but no vang. I do have a traveler attached to the boom end. What is the benefit of the boom vang;i.e., should I have one? What diameter rope should I have, or, what determines rope diameter? Where is the cunningham and what does it do? When is the tension let off on the outhaul and how much? How much tension is put on the main downhaul? Regarding the traveler, is there an advantage to a cabintop-mounted mid-boom attached traveler vs. boom-end attached traveler?

 

[Gord May]

Sail Handling Terms

Boom vangs allow vertical adjustment of the boom. Tensioning the vang tightens the leech of the sail. Cruising sailors use the vang to keep the boom from rising downwind, while racing sailors use the vang as a primary shaping device for the main. Cunninghams are used to tension the luff of the mainsail or genoa without adjusting the halyard. Luff tension affects draft position and the fullness of the sail. Cunninghams should be led to the crew so they can be adjusted frequently as wind speed changes.Adjustable outhauls are important in shaping the mainsail. Upwind, a tight outhaul flattens the lower part of the main. Loosening the outhaul increases the draft, especially in the lower third, and is effective in light air or off the wind. Because outhauls must release freely when there is little load on the sail, use oversized blocks for very low friction.Some excellent references:http://www.harken.com/rigtips/vang.phphttp://www.harken.com/blocks/powermp.phphttp://www.harken.com/blocks/loads.pdfhttp://www.harken.com/blocks/breakstr.pdfhttp://www.harken.com/rigtips/cuninghm.phphttp://www.harken.com/rigtips/maintravload.pdfHTHGord