Yeah, they can probably help with your jib sheet block placement as well. As Dave said it depends on which sail you are using. Also depends on cut of sail - e.g. a "deck-sweeper" racing 150 Genoa will probably need a different block placement than a higher-cut "cruising" 150 Genoa. Likewise different cuts of other sail sizes. There is a general rule which is that when you have a correct sheet angle, the jib will luff evenly along the whole leading edge, when it luffs. If the upper part of the jib luffs first, sheet angle is too low (too 'flat' or horizontal, block too far back). If the lower part of the jib luffs first, sheet angle is too high (too 'steep' or vertical, block too far forward). This makes sense when you think about the tension on a triangular sail fixed at the front edge and with varying sheet angles pulling on the back corner. Pull down more than back on a triangle shape and the top will have more tension, the bottom less. Pull back more than down and the bottom will have more tension, the top less. Area of less tension will luff first. So in a steady breeze you can slowly head up and watch the luff of your jib. If top luffs first, move blocks forward a bit, if bottom luffs first, move blocks back a bit, and repeat the test. cheers, John On 6/25/19 7:40 AM, Gerry Lempicki via montgomery_boats wrote:
I am so glad I found this list and you knowledgeable people helping out. I wouldn't have figured all that out being such a newbie. Now I have a slight clue anyway. And reading up on the Cunningham tells me it is another tool for subtle sail shaping; is it generally correct that it would be tightened in stronger winds and loosened in light winds?Fortunately when I get the boat on the water at the end of the week, some experienced sailors/racers are willing to help us out. My goal is to have the equipment as ready as I can for when they can come aboard. Thanks again for all the information. Gerry On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 10:07:29 AM EDT, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
Gerry: The eye straps on the port side are for the the dead ends of the main's tack reef lines. The clamcleats on starboard are for where you lock down the reef. Use the aluminum CL211s not those plastic jobs! (The eye straps can also be used for dead ending a cunningham.) Make sure the eye straps and clam cleats are low enough that when you put in the reef the tack is pulled down tight to the gooseneck. The reef lines are 1/4". Tie to the strapeye and run up to the reef tack grommet and down to the clamcleat. Run the jib halyard to the cockpit. Good location for adjusting luff tension. Leave the main halyard at the mast. On the starboard side run the cunningham to the cockpit. Many ways to set up a topping lift. One is going from the boom end up to a block near the starboard head of the mast, down to blocks leading aft.
:: Dave Scobie
-Gerry
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