Re: catalina27-talk: Re: goosenecks, cunninghams and black bands

[James Calleran]

Tim,
    You reinforce my point; and, more elegantly to boot.  Without some kind of multi-block system, pulling the downhaul "by hand" won't do more than "take out the slack."  Not unless you're a lot stronger than I.

Jim Calleran, BayBird, C27 #2784
Mathews Yacht Club, VA

Tim Ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I think theres a big difference between "luff tensioning" and "putting
on some cunningham."

While trimming a boom downhaul will serve to flatten a main,
a cunningham cringle, due to it's placement above and slightly aft
of the tack, is a much more efficient attachment point to bring the
draft of the main forward.

also: just about every sailmaker I've ever talked to or been on a boat with,
is adamant about one thing: too much leff tension is terrible for a
sail, whether
it be a headsail or a main or even a chute.

my 2 sensibilities...

tf



James Calleran wrote:

>
> 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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