"CaveLamb" wrote in message
...
Wilbur Hubbard wrote:
"CaveLamb" wrote in message
m...
CaveLamb wrote:
I have a brand new suit of sails.
I'm trying to learn how they are going to trim -
and/or if I need to have any changes made.

Yesterday, winds 23 to 15, under mainsail only...

I could get all three tell tails on the leach to stream
only as the luff started to shiver (sometimes fairly deep).

The sailmakers said that they had added some shape.
I'm wondering if this may mean too much belly in this sail.


Make that 13 to 15?


Next time don't do mainsail only. Use a headsail, too. 13 to 15 you
should be able to hank on a 120 or 130% genny. 100% without a doubt! As
you know, the two sails on a sloop work as a team. The slot effect comes
into play and this will allow the mainsail telltales to stream backwards,
even the lowest one, because of the increased velocity across the
windward side of the mainsail. Does the mainsail have a Cunningham
cringle? If so you can flatten it some with a downhaul on the Cunningham.

That lower telltale on the mainsail can be a touch nut to stream back.
You just might find the optimal is the upper telltales streaming back and
the lower one fluttering or going around forward into the low pressure
area on the leeward side of the main there the chord is longest and the
air tends to stagnate.


Wilbur Hubbard

Good points.

I'm studying the main first because of the new shape.
It really does have noticeably deeper camber.

And yes, absolutely, will look at it with the genny up before deciding
anything drastic.

The old main didn't do this. I could get all three streaming and not
be hanging on the edge of a luff.


This boat was designed with a full battened main.
Very flat (by comparison) with fine entry and exit slopes...
Also a pain in the butt sometimes.


The genoa, which I thought was 130% is actually 143%.
I'm hoping we will get to that today or tomorrow.

Film at eleven?


A full batten mainsail will handle greater wind speeds before you have to
reef because it is flatter and it will point a little better for the same
reason. You also notice luffing way less because of the battens. A non-full
batten will pull better in the lighter winds. A mainsail with a little more
belly to it will probably be a little faster in 10-15 mph winds. But there
should be a couple of ways to flatten it somewhat as the wind pipes up. Thus
the Cunningham plus just pulling it tighter at the three corners. My new
mainsail has a little more belly than the original but it does have a
Cunningham cringle. Also I had it made a few inches shorter along the foot
so I can outhaul it a little more before it fetches up against the outhaul
hardware. It is a shelf foot the shelf of which actually closes as the
outhaul is pulled tight. Relaxing the outhaul allows more belly back into it
along about the lower 1/3 of the sail.


Wilbur Hubbard