I'll second Wayne's comments below. When you let out the mainsheet on a run, a side pull develops as much as a down pull. Audasea is rigged with a downhaul, vang and mainsheet. With a downhaul at the gooseneck, the vang is only used off the wind. Also, I now have a snap shackle on the mast end of the vang, and can move it out to the toe rail, to give it even more downward pull, and where it doubles as a preventer. But like Bill's spinnaker, I'd only do that on a long run. Otherwise, you would have to go forward to switch it on every Jibe. Howard On 2/13/03 5:04 AM, "wayne yeargain" <wayne@ev1.net> wrote:
Hi Tom A vang is a definate advantage for sail trim on any size boat. When the boom is swung out the pressure on the sail causes the boom to rise at the back. This reduces the area of sail presented to the wind.The vang lets you pull the boom down flattening the sail. If the boom is allowed to rise you lose a small percentage of your sail area - result less power. Allowing the boom to rise is a technique used to de-power a boat, if this is desirable, the boom vang is simply loosened. You can test this the next time you'r out on your boat. Sailing without a vang on any point of sail,reach up and grab your boom with your hand and pull it down, you will immediately feel a small surge of speed, release it and speed drops. Didn't mean to write a book on the subject, hope this helps. Fair seas
Wayne -