My question: What do you do with the rope that extends from the mast to the end of the boom once you hoist the sail? Do you simply tighten it or do you tie it off at the bottom of the mast?
Rigging Question
Rigging Question
I am a first time sailor and own a Mac 26M.
My question: What do you do with the rope that extends from the mast to the end of the boom once you hoist the sail? Do you simply tighten it or do you tie it off at the bottom of the mast?
My question: What do you do with the rope that extends from the mast to the end of the boom once you hoist the sail? Do you simply tighten it or do you tie it off at the bottom of the mast?
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Catigale
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JJ - I think you are describing the 'topping lift' whch runs up the mast, then back from a block (or pulley at the top of the mast) to the rear most part of the boom or horizontal metal extrusion.
It is used for subtle adjustments to the main in light air to get better sail shape by good sailors, and to prevent the boom from hitting my head by sailors like me.
My advice is to ignore it for year one or two, just make sure you arent pulling the boom up with it under regular air.
When you drop the main, it does a nice job of holding the boom in position and not flopping into the cockpit.
It is used for subtle adjustments to the main in light air to get better sail shape by good sailors, and to prevent the boom from hitting my head by sailors like me.
My advice is to ignore it for year one or two, just make sure you arent pulling the boom up with it under regular air.
When you drop the main, it does a nice job of holding the boom in position and not flopping into the cockpit.
Topping Lift
Catigale-
Thanks for your response. When I hoist the sail the 'Topping Lift" is still rather slack. Do you leave it this way or snug it up? Seems to me it would be blowing around in the wind if I don't snug it??
Thanks for your response. When I hoist the sail the 'Topping Lift" is still rather slack. Do you leave it this way or snug it up? Seems to me it would be blowing around in the wind if I don't snug it??
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Frank C
Welcome
JJ,
Welcome to the world of sailing or more correctly power-sailing. Frank C. is right - leave the topping lift as is with slack once the main is up. Once the main sail is hoisted it's job is over. My advice is don't use it to try to trim the main for a variety of reasons I won't go into here. A boom vang and the main sheet are used for this purpose.
Changing conditions could require reefing the main or dropping it all together and during these situations the topping lift will keep the main boom off the deck and over-head when properly adjusted. It can also prevent the boom from busting your head in an accidental jibe.
Also as a point of interest there are no ropes on a sailboat. When they come aboard they are "lines". My hope is that even with the new power sailing generation that these sailing terminology traditons will be maintained.
Happy New Year and Happy Power Sailing!
JonBill
Welcome to the world of sailing or more correctly power-sailing. Frank C. is right - leave the topping lift as is with slack once the main is up. Once the main sail is hoisted it's job is over. My advice is don't use it to try to trim the main for a variety of reasons I won't go into here. A boom vang and the main sheet are used for this purpose.
Changing conditions could require reefing the main or dropping it all together and during these situations the topping lift will keep the main boom off the deck and over-head when properly adjusted. It can also prevent the boom from busting your head in an accidental jibe.
Also as a point of interest there are no ropes on a sailboat. When they come aboard they are "lines". My hope is that even with the new power sailing generation that these sailing terminology traditons will be maintained.
Happy New Year and Happy Power Sailing!
JonBill
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
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If you were racing, you would want to get the topping lift out of the way (like secured to the mast) when the main sail is lifted since there would be a very slight disruption to the air flow where the line intersects it. But for most of the time just cruising around, I just let it flop around and it only goes tight when you drop the main. If you don't have enough slack in it, you can't flatten the main out when you need it to be flat.