TEACHING STUDENTS TO SAIL
Open Leech
Closed Leech
Boom Vang The boom vang affects leech tension and mast bend, directly affecting sail shape. When the boom vang is off the leach is open, also known as twist. When the vang is tensioned, the leach will close. The boom vang, when tensioned, pulls down on the boom while pushing forward on the gooseneck connection of the mast. The result is that the leech tightens (closes and hooks to windward) and the mast bends forward forcing the sail to flatten.
When there are strong, steady winds, and sailors are overpowered, knowing how and when to “vang sheet” becomes important – that is, tighten the boom vang to tension the leech while easing the mainsheet in the puffs for heel control. Proper adjustment of the boom vang might be the most important adjustment in performance boat handling.
Reminding your students
Boom Vang OFF
Boom Vang ON
of their boom vang tension settings as the conditions change will help them have proper boat control.
Traveler The traveler is a control consisting of a track and car that the mainsheet block is attached to or a bridle and two cars.
The traveler is used to: E Controls the angle of the mainsail to the wind. E Allows the sailor to set the boom on centerline in order to achieve an efficient and powerful close-hauled sail set up. This is done by moving the traveler car to windward until the boom moves to the center of the boat.
E Depower the mainsail when sailing close-hauled and on close reaches by easing the traveler car to leeward without changing the leech tension and the ability of the boat to point.
Bridle The bridle is a set of control lines that are attached to the mainsheet block and allow the sailor to control the boom in relation to the centerline. By adjusting the length of the bridle side lines, the sailor can optimize the boat’s ability to point by having enough leech tension through mainsheet tension when the boom is on centerline. In lighter air, the bridle lines will be longer to permit the boom to stay on center without having to sheet in too much to get proper leech tension. As wind velocity increases, the bridle should be shortened to keep the boom on centerline with more sheet tension and a proper increase in leech tension.
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