I am a bit puzzled by the frequent assertions that people are using cunninghams with their sliders for luff tensioning since the slider and the halyard together should be adequate for luff tensioning.The mast on my '76 came with two black bands: one near the masthead and the other near the boom. I'm not a racer, but, as I understand it, when one is racing in a one-design class, the black bands mark the maximum luff length allowed by class rules.
With the sliding gooseneck loose, the main is hoisted to the top band. Then the downhaul - the line attached to the gooseneck is tensioned until the tack aligns with the lower band. That should puts some tension on luff and ensures that the wrinkles are out. When, e.g., in breezy conditions, you want to put more tension of the main you pull down on the cunningham. You get a stretched -- but not lengthened -- luff.
Jim Calleran, BayBird, C27 #2784
Mathews Yacht Club, VA
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