"DSK" wrote in message
...
Donal wrote:
End-boom.

However, I only use the vang when we are off the wind.

This means that when I ease the main, that it will rise.

Bearing in mind that I am usually sailing in gusty conditions, would it
be
better to drop the travellor, than dump the main?

Depends The stock answer is that it is better to drop the traveller
and maintain the same twist & leach tension, and for the most part
that's true. The exception is when you get a gust that is much stronger
and/or a big lift, that will knock the boat over even with the traveller
all the way to lee. Then you do want the sail to twist dramatically,
because that dumps pressure on the upper part of the sail where the wind
has the most leverage to heel the boat, it relieves the sudden weather
helm, and it maintains drive in the lower sections instead of just
flogging the whole sail. The problem is that with many rigs, the jib
then becomes a bag and must also be eased (or given a heave on the
barber hauler).

Also when it's choppy and the boat is pitching appreciably, you want
more twist so the traveller should be set higher, and vang looser, than
in smooth water.

Why? (I'd assume that you need maximum power to get through the chop).




Oz1 ia right about steering with the traveller. When you get the right
amount of helm dialed in (2 ~ 3 degrees at most), bringing the traveller
up will increase weather helm and feather the boat slightly, easing the
traveller will make her bear away. Changing the heel is part of what
does this, but you can notice the effect even if you only go for a very
slight change in heel.

As I said to Thom earlier, there is great info in this group.

It's become very clear that I have been using the mainsheet, when I should
have been using the travellor. It also seems that I have been sailing with
the travellor set too high. I might need to add more pulleys to the
travellor - or maybe it will be easier to adjust when it is being used a bit
lower.


Regards


Donal
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Thanks.



Regards


Donal
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