Whats this line called and how should I use it?

[Bill Ebling]

The luff of my 1985 H31 mainsail is attached to the mast track using sliding slugs. The slugs for the upper 5/6th of the luff are attached to the sail using small shackles; each one attached to a track slug AND a luff grommet in the sail. The lower 1/6th of the luff is set up differently. The sail grommets have their own shackles separate from the shackles attached to the slugs. Thus the sail grommets and track slugs on the lower 1/6th of the sail are not directly connected. A stout 3/16" Dacron line is sewn into the sails luff (like a boltrope) 1/6th of the way up the luff (I call it a "luff line" for now). This "luff line" descends down to and beyond the mainsail tack weaving through the sail grommet shackles and slug shackles effectively lacing them together. The free end of this "luff line" can be cleated off at the gooseneck with various degrees of tension. This is not a Cunningham, which I also have. When the luff line is tensioned, the bottom sixth of the mainsails luff is pulled tight up against the mast track like the upper luff always is. The main "foot shelf" tightens and the bottom of the main becomes flatter. The following maneuver can be carried out to change the shape of the main foot, ease off the halyard, tension the Cunningham and retention the halyard and then relax the "luff line". Now the lower sixth of the luff pulls away slightly from the mast track and creating a very full "foot shelf" in the main. What is this line called? Is its purpose to change the fullness of the mainsail foot? What is the optimal way to use this?

 

[Doug T.]

Jack line?

I've heard that described recently (on the briontoss site) as a "jack line". The way I understand it, it's used during reefing. With a "normal" sail (one without the jack line), you can't pull the sail material all the way down to the boom at the luff because the track slugs stack up on top of each other. This rope allows the sail material to be separate from the slugs and lashed down more tightly.I think.

 

[Dan]

reefing tack

This line is there to allow the lower portion of the sail to "fall away" when reefing. If the sail was attached directly to the mast, the slugs would stack up and the reefing tack gromet would not be able to be lowered to the gooseneck.

 

[Bill Ebling]

Proper use of Line

Thanks, Dan and Doug. Yes, of course, this makes perfect sense

 

[Tony Re]

Doug, Dan and Bill are correct .Jack line?

The desription of utilizing the "Reef" lines are correct. I thought I would explain a"Jack lines".Jack Lines are the Wire / tubing / or now nylion mesh cloth tobing ..similar to good sail ties .But stroger (4000 lbs breaking strenth).that are attached to the deck of your boat ..and circle the entire boat ..from bow to port aft to starboard aft back to bow. Your teather is atached to the jack line at one end .and the other end of the teather attached to you harness. The jack lines are "Safty Precautions" used at night and heavy air ..and required in off shore racing. It is so you can move freely around the boat .but be still attached so if you fell overboard you are Still atached to the boat.  DID I explain that in english? I hope this is understandable.Tony"skipper"Re-Treat ..1985 Hunter 40.

 

[Doug T.]

Jack lines / reef lines -- Tony

Tony,Yes, you are correct that jacklines are the lines (or webbing or whatever) that are on the deck & that you lash yourself to to keep you from going overboard.The term "jack line" was ALSO used by someone to refer to line on the sail that goes up the luff. It was used by someone who appeared to know his stuff, so I repeated it. I thought the term "reef line" was used to describe a line that helpd to pull the sail reefing points down to the boom. I'm not sure "reef line" is correct for this context.Are there any sailmakers out there that can tell us definitively what the proper term is>