The 4 Elements Of Sail Trim

[Rick Macdonald]

More of a string than a line

I just happen to have my jib in a bag in the den closet. I went to check the leech line size and was surprised to find one on the leech _and_ the foot. (Can you tell I've never adjusted them?)The line is not even 3/32". About the diameter of a Q-Tip shaft. It just runs up the leech of the sail in the pocket formed by folding and sewing the edge. It is terminated at the head and there is a little plastic V-shaped cleat near the foot.On my main (from memory now) I think there is an opening above the reef point where the leech line is exposed so you can get at it when reefed. I think there must be another little cleat there as well.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Caught me!

Yes, that's me. Never touched my leech line in two seasons but I've got 7 months of winter to read up on it for next year!

 

[Terry]

The leech line on both our full-batten-main...

H28 and P42 runs almost the full length of the main's leech. I need to spend more time trimming it just like the other control lines.Terry

 

[Rob]

No main sheet traveller!

Don, I bought my 1984 222 this fall. I was mystified to see it has no main sheet traveler and never did. Would you consider adding one a MUST DO for this boat? Their not cheap and I only got to sail her once in favorable conditions before she was hauled for the winter.Thanks, Rob

 

[Don Guillette]

Rob: The important thing to consider is what function does the traveler perform and can you use another sail trim control to get the job done. Your in luck because of the "4 elements of sail trim" that you are controling - draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack - the only one of the 4 that the traveler controls is angle of attack ( I'll describe angle of attack in another session). There are two sail controls that effect angle of attack and they are the MAINSHEET and the TRAVELER. Since you have one of the two - the mainsheet - it will surfice to get the job done. In other words, you can get away without it. How's that for saving you a few bucks!!With the money you just saved you can buy something else for your boat. If the boat was over 30'I would say you should install one. To understand what the traveler does, think of your screen door and assume there is a pin in the outside bottom corner, which runs in a groove in the floor. When you open and close the door, does the shape of the screen change? Obviuosly it doesn't. Same with the traveler. When you move it up or down on your boat, your only changing the angle of the sail to the wind. The shape of the sail does not change. As the boom comes in it makes the the sail more powerful and as you ease it out you make the sail less powerful. In simple terms, the angle of attack involves only pulling the sail in or out.

 

[Bob]

Agree and disagree with Don

Certainly you can get by without a traveler, and thousands of boats do, but having one adds such an extra dimension to trimming the main that in my opinion it is money well spent. In fact, I just pulled off my old one to install a new windward sheeting set-up that is an absolute joy to use. Additional benefits: 1. In a hard puff it is easier to dump the main and return it to its former setting using the traveler; 2. If you are ever racing another boat, it is a substantial aid in trimming the main precisely (because, as you pointed out, it only controls one element.) Don, earlier you said "a cunningham is nothing more than a soft boom vang" - I'd have to argue the point, as the vang controls the leech of the main and exerts its force on the aft end of the boom, whereas the cunningham controls the luff and exerts no force on the boom.

 

[Don Guillette]

Bob: I can see where there might be some confusing but actually I was describing what a cunningham IS not what IT DOES. It is a soft boom vang and it's function is exactly as you described. It is an alternative to the halyard.

 

[Bob]

Good point, Don

Now here's an additional question to keep things going: most of the time we are trying to pull the boom down, or at least to keep it from rising - but when, if ever, would we want to help it rise?

 

[Don Guillette]

Bob: Great question but somehow I think you know the answer or as Patton said to Rommel "I read your book".I have a Garhauer rigid vang, which I think is a great buy for anyone considering the purchase of a rigid vang. When you install the rigid vang you want it, without any weight on it - the sail hoisted - to be about 10 degrees above horizontal. The reason for that is that is the perfect setting for very light conditions. If you don't have a rigid vang then you want to take advantage of your topping lift. Normally, the only use for a topping lift is to hold up the boom when the sail is flaked but if you don't have a rigid vang the topping lift will work as a substitute. Next time your out sailing closehauled - for you guys back East and up North that will be next April (I know, that's really mean) in very light air -under 4 knots - get the sail really flat and pull up the boom about 10 degrees and watch what happens especially if your sailing against guys who are putting belly in their sails in an attempt to gain speed. As you know,if your a follower of the Forum, that unfortunately the wind does not have enough power to get around a sail will belly in it. You will easily pass them. You don't have to be racing to do this because any time there are two boats on the water you have a race. Right? Let me know what happens when you try that experiment.

 

[Barton]

Don a Thanksgiving Gift

DonI appreciate very much your sailing tips.I just have to mention that I have learned that there are two ways to spellyour and you're your (as in your house)AND  you're (as in you are)It helps me to learn better my English.Thank you and Happy holiday.Barton

 

[Bob]

Thanks, Don

I'm in the process of ordering a Garhauer vang right now, motivated by what I learned one night in extrememly light air when I was playing around with sail trim - instead of using the topping lift I took the boom's weight off the sail (on a reach) by lifting the boom with my hand and of course the leech freed up very noticeably and I could feel and hear the boat speed up. Until then I had never thought of the boom's weight as a factor in sail shaping.

 

[Don Guillette]

Barton Of Cologne: Nah, you can't learn any spelling from me. I'm just a country boy that went to Catholic school in the 50's. In other words, the nuns taught us why I was created but I wasn't much good at English or math. I did learn a lot about the metal edge of a ruler!! There are probably some guys out there that know what I'm talking about. Sometimes you guys have to overlook my spelling and punctuation. Just read between the lines and try to help me figure out what I'm saying.

 

[Don Guillette]

Bob: You'll love that Garhauer vang. When you call you'll talk to either Mark or Guido. Tell them I told you to call and they will bend over backwards to help you - they will anyway. Also, you should request that they install the GOLD SPRINGS. They are much more powerful than the standard issue ones. If you have any questions about installation, just let me know.

 

[John]

Thanks Don.

Thanks for all the tips Don. I've been following these posts for a few days and it's nice to get to understand the "why" that goes with the "how". I anxiously await your book and chart as early Christmas gifts to myself.