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SVN Solovelanet Global
The jib
When the telltales shiver while sailing on a
reach, it means that the wind flows turbulent
and the sail is not working well.
The tools available to the bowman to adjust
the jib are: the halyard, the sheet and its
traveller, and the backstay.
As the wind gets stronger, we need to tighten
the halyard and move the draft forward.
Notebook
If the genoa stretches in the lower area at first
when luffing, and the lower upwind telltale starts
flapping, then the sail is not twisted enough. In
this case, we need to move the traveller aft, thus
increasing the twist and flattening the lower area
of the sail.
With the sail twisted
correctly, the genoa
clew is oriented. Here
the telltales play a key
role: they must be all
straight towards the
leech and parallel to
each other.
To adjust the position of the genoa draft we need to use
the halyard of the sail. Loosening the halyard will move
the draft aft, gives a finer entry and allows to gain some
degrees when luffing under moderate to light wind. Hauling
the genoa will move the draft forward and gives the genoa
a rounder entry. With the draft forward we sail less close-
hauled, but we can steer better under stronger wind.
Tightened halyard
Loose halyard
The draft in the middle-top area of the genoa is
trimmed by adjusting the tension of the stay.
If the stay is tightened, the sail is flat and the
edge sharp; with a loose stay the catenary curve
increases, the sail is fuller and the edge rounder.
On a masthead rigged boat, tension is adjusted
using the backstay.
On a fractionally
rigged boat it is more
difficult, because we
have to adjust the
runners or the topmast
shrouds.
Sheet in place
Not twisted enough
Position of the draft
The backstay
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