I
L
I
N
G
S
A
o
n
M
i
k
e
H
us
t
Jib Set – The Basics
T
I
P
S
Last month we discussed the Angle to the Wind: This is the deep reach the mainsail will block
basics of setting the mainsail and this basic control of the sail needed to the wind so the jib will not fly at
month we will move on to the jib. successfully sail all points. all. When this happens it is usually
These basics apply to all jibs – a 90% faster to do one of two things; come
jib or a 150% genoa. Let’s start with • To Windward – The jib should up some so the jib fills or fall off to a
the tools we have to work with: be sheeted in tight, usually this run and fly wing-on-wing. Usually
• Jib Sheet – attached to the clew of is limited by the sail coming up a combination of both works well,
the jib and used to control almost against a spreader or shroud but coming up for a while until you can
all aspects of the jib’s set; including if not, the amount of draft at the jibe and run directly toward your
draft, twist and angle to the wind. foot will become the limiting factor destination (or visa versa).
• Down Wind (Running) – Fly wing-
Picture 1
Picture 2 on-wing or alternate broad reaches.
Twist about right for
Top twisted off Accidental jibes are a concern when
windward sailing.
(car moved back). sailing wing-on-wing so be careful.
And, for this reason, when the wind
is blowing hard alternating reaches
may be safest.
Twist and Draft: Used to fine
tune – most cruising boats I see are
not making these adjustments and
are thereby losing a fair amount of
available speed.
• Twist – When sailing to windward,
the car should be positioned so all
the telltales break at the same time;
doing so assures that the whole
sail is working at its full potential.
Moving the car forward increases
downward pull on the leach and
• Jib Sheet Car – usually a fairlead on (flatter for heavy air and deeper twists the leach in (windward),
a track that the sheet runs through for light air). Then steer the boat to moving the car back increases
on its way from the clew to the keep the telltales both streaming. tension on the foot and twists the
winch. Moving the car changes • Close Reach to Beam Reach – Set leach out (leeward). Similar to the
the angle or direction of pull your boat’s course and adjust the mainsail, the change in twist is
and thereby plays a large role in sheets to again keep the telltales most obvious on the leech at the
controlling twist and draft. streaming. top of the sail (Pictures 1 and 2) but
• Telltales on the luff of the jib – used • Broad Reach – The telltales will not the telltales are a better indicator
to indicate wind flow over the sail. help in setting the jib much beyond when close hauled. Therefore, if
As you can see, there are fewer a beam reach; therefore another the windward telltale at the top of
tools for us to work with, which, method must be used. A good the sail is breaking first when the
unfortunately, makes the adjustments approximation is to pretend there boat is steered into wind, the sail is
more complicated. Therefore, I’m is a boom between the tack and the twisted off too far and the car needs
going to break these rules into two clew of the jib and trim the sail so to be moved forward. Likewise, if
sections; the first on how to set the this boom is perpendicular to the the bottom telltale breaks first the
angle to the wind and the second for apparent wind (this is the same rule car needs to be moved back.
controlling twist and draft. As with used for the main on this heading, • On a reach the car will need to be
the mainsail rules, these apply in light so this pretend boom should also be moved forward as the sail is let out
to moderate winds. parallel to the main’s boom). On a in order to maintain the same sheet
48° No r t h , Se p t e m b e r 2009 pa g e 56
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114