ENGLISH 08-10-2010
Page 20/58
Tofinou 9.5
LATITUDE 46–- 17410 Saint Martin de Ré- Ile de Ré - (FRANCE)
Tel 33 (0)5.46.09.41.79 Fax 33 (0)5.46.09.01.60 – email: [email protected]
Angle of top batten and 1st telltale:
the tension applied to the mainsheet will cause the degree of side bend to vary, and hence the angle
of the aft part of the top batten, and correspondingly modify the airflow at this point, as indicated by
the 1st telltale.
Foot:
the tension in the mainsail foot causes variation in the camber near the bottom of the sail. A mark
should be placed at the point of maximum tension on the aft end of the boom. The table below gives
the recommended positions according to the strength of the wind.
As soon as you bear away, you can ease off a little tension on the foot in order to increase the
camber of the sail.
Boom vang:
the vang is not mentioned in the trimming table, as the boom is controlled by the mainsheet when
close-hauled. But as soon as you bear away, it is necessary to have a little downhaul tension all the
time in order to be able to spill wind during gusts and thus avoid luffing up.
The table below gives guidance for trimming the mainsail when close-hauled for various ranges of
apparent wind-speed:
Apparent
wind
Car
Backstay
Angle of top batten & telltale
Foot
0 – 6 kt
+ 25 cm
+ 10 "
slack
Open by 3°, telltale floating at 50%
Slack off by
5 cm / 2 "
7 – 11 kt
+ 12 cm
+ 5 "
slightly taut
Open by 3°, telltale floating at 70%
2 cm / 1 " off
maximum
12 – 16 kt
centered
taut
In line, telltale floating at 100%
maximum
17 – 19 kt
– 10 cm
– 4 "
very taut
In line
maximum
20 + kt
– 15 to 20 cm
– 6 to 8 "
maximum
tension
Open by 4° to 6°
maximum
The cunningham should be used as the wind increases and the mast is curved by tensioning the
backstay. Only ever moderate, cunningham tension has the effect of slightly re-tensioning the luff
in order to remove small wrinkles perpendicular to the mast.
