sail tackle above cunningham ring

Nov 3, 2015
2
O'Day 272 Ipswich
sail tackle above cunningham ring IMG_3399.jpeg


What is the technique to optimize the use of the sheaves in the tackle on the lower portion of the mainsail leach? Jiffi-reef line is on on the block in this pic. This is original Neil Pryde sail on O'day 272 main. Thank you
 

PaulK

.
Dec 1, 2009
1,531
Sabre 402 Southport, CT
The tackle appears to be attached to the luff of the sail, not the leech. (Leaching is what your septic tank field does.) Have never seen anything like this before. Are the same tackles on the leech too? It looks like there is a similar block and tackle set further up the luff. Perhaps it is supposed to be used to pull the sail down? Would think gravity would do most of that for you. If it is supposed to help with jiffy-reefing the lower end would need to be fastened at the gooseneck and this does not appear to be the case. If Neil Pryde made the sail you may want to ask Neil Pryde what this tackle is supposed to do before you try to optimize it.
 
Oct 19, 2017
8,143
O'Day Mariner 19 3444 Littleton, NH
I'll hazard a guess, and suggest it was intended as a built in flaking system, not for reefing under sail. Your reef points appear to be the large grommet almost halfway to the first block, then the unused block with the long reinforced strip attaching it to the luff.

-Will
 
May 29, 2018
686
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
Oh! This is a good one. Puzzle that is.
Top one. A line going through the slide and up.
1789043832719.png

The middle one. A line coming down, going through the slide and down,
1789043964640.png

The lower one. A line going down, tied off at the slide and down where it ends.

1789044273284.png

If you pull on the end of the line, it will pull down the slides.
But "why" on a small light sail?
Why not just have a line from on slide to the next?
What are those white cheek blocks for?
Is it rigged correctly?
I don't know!!
gary
 

Attachments

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,338
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
The thin line connects the sail's luff to the slides. It allows that lower section of sail to pull away from the mast while the sliders stay in place when the mainsail is lowered for reefing. Instead of a bunched up sail, there is easy access for the first reef point to clip into the rams horn, while the "slab" can be pulled away and then rolled up and tucked in snugly on the boom. When hoisting, sliders are already inserted in the slot, the guiding lines pull the sail into alignment with the mast. There's a term for it that I can't remember.
Many sails now come equipped with a strap and ring device for getting the reef point over the bunched sail to the rams horn.

The system was employed to speed up reefing. I think it is pretty effective in that regard.