There is such a thing as too much info. Being that I’m just a county boy and a common seaman I have to keep things simple so I can understand what is being presented. Most times I don’t get the scientific basis of stuff – all I know is how do I get the elements to work for me. An example is lift/drag. I could discuss that for about 30 seconds and then I would have shot my load but I do know how to get those two elements to work for me. The first page of my book states “if you want a scientific presentation that includes intricate details together with complicated formulae for hull speed, wave lengths and displacement/length ratios plus endless verbiage then my book is not for you”.
Same applies to telltales. The standard setup is 3 sets of twos on the jib and 3 singles on the mainsail. If you want to get fancy you could add a set of twos to the center of the main, which you would read just as you do the ones the jib. Sadly, probably 50% of the sailors don’t have any telltales on their main and jib – how they determine how to make sail trim adjustments is beyond me. I can’t and I know what I’m looking for from a sail shape standpoint.
For a beginner to high intermediate, all they would need on the jib is the middle telltales. A top set would be nice to have. On the mainsail, all they would need is the top one but the middle one would be nice to have. Again, 50% of the sailors in this group don’t have any so anything is an improvement.
Telltales are important but if you don’t know how to read them you could tack a million of them all over your sails and it would not matter. For beginners to intermediates, you should just strive to get the telltales flowing straight aft. If you can do that your half way home. Unfortunately, to do that you have to use ALL THE SAIL TRIM CONTROLS FOR THE MAIN AND JIB and that is another matter to deal with.
The bottom line is a mate could study all the scientific telltale data in the world but if he doesn’t know how to work the sail trim controls what good is it. For beginners to intermediates, my advise is learn the basics of reading telltales and then you have a foundation to build on. My book gives it to you in four pages.
Same applies to telltales. The standard setup is 3 sets of twos on the jib and 3 singles on the mainsail. If you want to get fancy you could add a set of twos to the center of the main, which you would read just as you do the ones the jib. Sadly, probably 50% of the sailors don’t have any telltales on their main and jib – how they determine how to make sail trim adjustments is beyond me. I can’t and I know what I’m looking for from a sail shape standpoint.
For a beginner to high intermediate, all they would need on the jib is the middle telltales. A top set would be nice to have. On the mainsail, all they would need is the top one but the middle one would be nice to have. Again, 50% of the sailors in this group don’t have any so anything is an improvement.
Telltales are important but if you don’t know how to read them you could tack a million of them all over your sails and it would not matter. For beginners to intermediates, you should just strive to get the telltales flowing straight aft. If you can do that your half way home. Unfortunately, to do that you have to use ALL THE SAIL TRIM CONTROLS FOR THE MAIN AND JIB and that is another matter to deal with.
The bottom line is a mate could study all the scientific telltale data in the world but if he doesn’t know how to work the sail trim controls what good is it. For beginners to intermediates, my advise is learn the basics of reading telltales and then you have a foundation to build on. My book gives it to you in four pages.
