8/18/2023 0 Comments Tack and clew![]() The prime advantages are that all moving parts are exposed and easily repairable – for example, mast track, cars and sliders, blocks and rigging – you have the ability to cast off the halyard and drop the mainsail in a crisis, and a better-shaped sail is achievable as you drop down through the reefs.Ī side debate exists between a single-line system and a tack line with hook or shackle. As with so many aspects of voyaging offshore, we are back to basics here: a slab reefing system with a fixed tack and clew lines. Slab reefing is the only seamanlike system, full stop, as there is not much that can go dramatically wrong. Again, not my recommendation for a world cruising configuration. The adage now goes that it is cheaper to pay for fuel and motor than risk damage to the sail or the mechanism. Result: fear and loathing about using the mainsail at all. It may work a treat at the dock, but as any superyacht captain worth his salt will admit it is a nerve-racking experience offshore. But these systems suffer the same problems, compounded by the necessity for an exacting control system that lowers the sail and rolls it up at the same rate, with the boom at a hyper-critical angle. A flaked mainsail on the boom, even under a neatly cut cover, is now considered untidy by some designers and owners. In-boom furlers appear to be purely a style item, especially in the superyacht range. ![]() It must be said, though, that the system is a nice idea for inshore sailing in benign conditions. When it doesn’t work – in the worse case a jam-up with a flogging sail that won’t roll up – it can become an unforgettable experience. When it works, great, although it means a mainsail undercut on the leech owing to a lack of battens and therefore a less than optimal sail shape. In-mast mainsail furlers have persisted in spite of an increased mast weight package and a mechanism buried inside the mast profile. In-mast and in-boom furling systems deserve a mention here. Reliable headsail furling systems have certainly achieved that goal, but reefing the mainsail still presents a dilemma. Sail handling exclusively from the cockpit without having to go forward is highly desirable on any cruising boat, especially when storm sailing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |