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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Main sail trim

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TRogers
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 18:38:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 Hi Tom, are you talking about the boom being too high while you are sailing? Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Correct. Topping lift was so short that I couldn't get the boom to the correct height while sailing. Use jam cleat mounted on the boom to lift out of the way when not sailing and spare the head. Release until it hits the stopper knot to sail.

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TRogers
1st Mate

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90 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 18:46:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gambit
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TRogers
 
While beating to windward, the book suggests that use of the traveller is to be able to center the boom without having too much downward pressure on it as opposed to trying to get it to cross slightly over to the windward side of the boat which I've been doing. I can accept that.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Great thread, thanks for starting the discussion. With regards to the traveler keeping the boom centered, I notice that when my traveler is up and the boom in windward of center we seem to point a bit better. We may be taking a speed hit on this though. Does that sound right? The extra degree or two may be worth it if pinching for a mark, speed hit vs. two additional tacks. This must also do bad things for the slot since the headsail not be on a similar angle.

My traveler is not the stock one, we have it mounted across the forward part of the cockpit just outside the main hatch.

Thanks,
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Biggest difference I noted, is that the angle of attack from top to bottom on the sail evened out. With the topping lift holding the boom too high, the batten at the top of the sail was shoing about a 45 degree angle from the boom, while the lower part of the sail appeared to have less angle (I believe this is the definition of twist).

The leach at the top of the main sail would flutter/luff while the bottom of the sail was OK. "Lowering the boom" lessened this differential as the angle of attack was more consistent over the entire sail.

I believe that downwind, this twist is desirable? but not upwind.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 21:16:54

Hi Tom, you should let go the topping lift altogether. It is used to lift the boom while the sail is not up. You do not use it when sailing unless you are in very light air. Cheers.

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joegeiger
1st Mate

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USA
63 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 08:16:05

Great thread... Even though the traveler on the C25 is limited, I'm still amazed at how well it brings the boat back up in a stiff wind when I loosen it all the way to leeward.

Speaking of a rigid boom vang... can you still open the pop-top if you have a rigid boom vang? I know on my 86 SR FK I have to release the non-rigid boom vang at the mast base or loosen it completely in order to raise the pop-top... How does it work with a rigid boom vang?

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 13:08:02

Interesting topic. The cunningham was brought up. I have never used one. I've found that the downhaul works great. I pull the main all the way up, and then use the downhaul to adj the tension of the luff. Should I be using the cunning ham instead? If so, how do I set the downhaul?

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 14:39:31

The way I like to use the downhaul and cunningham is to set the downhaul very loosely, so that it is at the correct tension for sailing off the wind, and then, when I want to sail to windward, use the cunningham to increase the tension.

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 15:40:37

I suppose an advantage to this method, would be that you can tension the luff, without the added resistance that the gooseneck has against the mast, particularly with vang applied.

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2006 : 02:11:39

I am going to step back into this one if at all possible. First the topping lift should not be used when sailing. This line is for holding the end of the boom up when the sail is off of the mast and boom. I have used mine in the past when the winds have been really light, 1 to 2 knots, but thats it.

Here is what we do on the boat to get the main sail set up. We raise the main halyard to get the sail to the top mark on the mast, If you go beyond this mark, (1) you have a good chance of hitting the backstay with the headboard, and (2) class rules don't allow it to happen. This is where the cunningham comes into play, again I understand that the 25 has an adjustable boom, But this control as stated before should be used to control the height of the boom, not the shape of the sail.

In heavier air you start putting on more cunningham to flatten the luff of the sail. The flatter the luff the more wind that spills down the foil shape of the sail. When the wind gets stronger then you would twist the top section of the main sail to spill even more wind and depower the main. This is caused by the backstay, and the main sheet tension.

The boom vang helps from the end of the boom from rising up, Think about your boat in heavier winds and if the boom raises up the sail will start to stall towards the bottom, this is why you would put the boom vang on during a run, or reach. You can also vang sheet the main sail going close hauled to flatten the main sail in the puffs, this is popular in smaller dingy's like the Laser, but the same can be done with the 25.

I went out last Saturday for a short sail on the boat, It was the first time out with the new forstay, and I was checking the main sail shape, and what the helm felt like when I let go of the tiller. We were sailing in what I would say a good breeze in the photo. the main sheet was tight, I had on the cunningham hard, a little boomvang, and I played the travler in the puffs to control the boats healing. In this kind of wind you will want the top batten right under the boom, maybee a little to leeward to start twisting off the top of the sail. I had just one other person helping me out this day, and the Capri 25 is a very tippy boat. We were pointing right at 30 deg. off of the wind. the windex was right on the mark, and we were hitting 5.5 knots at times with main alone.

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