Our staysail is hanked on, and our main has slugs that go up the mast track. But both sails have a separate luff rope that extends about one-third way up the sail, from the foot. This luff rope runs, alternately, through horizontal eyes sewed into the sail and the hanks/slugs that attach to the stay/mast.
This luff rope is a mystery to me. On all other boats I have sailed, the hanks and slugs attached directly to the sail. The rope doesn't act as a cunningham, because the sail tack is separately held down (and in any case, it would put scallops in the lower part of the sail, if used to tension the luff). Conversely, loosening it would cause the lower part of the luff to separate from the stay/mast. I have not figured out its purpose, and it makes the sail more difficult to flake and handle.
I look forward to explanation from those here who are more knowledgable in these matters!
DQOTD about mysterious luff rope on main and staysail
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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John MacArthur
Re: DQOTD about mysterious luff rope on main and staysail
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jmac@laplaza.org
This is a reefing jackline. The idea is that the sail slugs won't have to drop all the way to the boom in order to reef the sail (at least in the main's case). On most boats that I've seen with this system, the slugs are prevented from dropping out of the opening with a stopper, which prevents the slugs from coming down to the opening. You should have a small cleat on the mast below the right side of the gooseneck that this line can be attached to after you drop the main halyard. Mine had this system on it when I got the boat, and I've had it on other boats. In all cases I've quickly converted the sail to normally attached slugs, and then done whatever was needed to the slug-track opening so that the slugs would pass it and fall to the boom without coming out. I must say I never saw any reason for this on the CD-30 with the slug-track "door". I've never seen this on a hanked on sail, and mine wasn't that way when I got her. I'm curious what others have to say.Our staysail is hanked on, and our main has slugs that go up the mast track. But both sails have a separate luff rope that extends about one-third way up the sail, from the foot. This luff rope runs, alternately, through horizontal eyes sewed into the sail and the hanks/slugs that attach to the stay/mast.
jmac@laplaza.org
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Matt Cawthorne
Jack lines
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Russel, As John Pointed out, the sytem you are referring to has to do with reefing for the main sail. It is a preference issue as to whether you like to remove the slugs from the track when you reef. I do not. My boat has a reefing hook at the gooseneck. I would never be able to pull the grommet at the reef point down to the hook if the sail were rigged without the jack line. In order to get good sail trim I put a loop with a 4 turn rolling hitch at the end of the line. When I raise the sail I hook this loop over the reefing hook. In time the loop has been adjusted so that the sail shape is correct with no bags by adjusting the rolling hitch. My personal feeling is that this is a little less effort than removing and re-feeding the slugs for reefing, but a little more difficult for flaking. You might try sewing little red and green marks on the sail at points where it is advantageous to flake the sail so that it is not a problem to flake.
The staysail is a different story. Without that jack line you would have to loosen the outhaul to drop the sail. Again, it is a preference issue as to whether you prefer the nice flaking or the ease of not adjusting the outhaul each time you raise and lower the sail.
Matt
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
Russel, As John Pointed out, the sytem you are referring to has to do with reefing for the main sail. It is a preference issue as to whether you like to remove the slugs from the track when you reef. I do not. My boat has a reefing hook at the gooseneck. I would never be able to pull the grommet at the reef point down to the hook if the sail were rigged without the jack line. In order to get good sail trim I put a loop with a 4 turn rolling hitch at the end of the line. When I raise the sail I hook this loop over the reefing hook. In time the loop has been adjusted so that the sail shape is correct with no bags by adjusting the rolling hitch. My personal feeling is that this is a little less effort than removing and re-feeding the slugs for reefing, but a little more difficult for flaking. You might try sewing little red and green marks on the sail at points where it is advantageous to flake the sail so that it is not a problem to flake.
The staysail is a different story. Without that jack line you would have to loosen the outhaul to drop the sail. Again, it is a preference issue as to whether you prefer the nice flaking or the ease of not adjusting the outhaul each time you raise and lower the sail.
Matt
Our staysail is hanked on, and our main has slugs that go up the mast track. But both sails have a separate luff rope that extends about one-third way up the sail, from the foot. This luff rope runs, alternately, through horizontal eyes sewed into the sail and the hanks/slugs that attach to the stay/mast.
This luff rope is a mystery to me. On all other boats I have sailed, the hanks and slugs attached directly to the sail. The rope doesn't act as a cunningham, because the sail tack is separately held down (and in any case, it would put scallops in the lower part of the sail, if used to tension the luff). Conversely, loosening it would cause the lower part of the luff to separate from the stay/mast. I have not figured out its purpose, and it makes the sail more difficult to flake and handle.
I look forward to explanation from those here who are more knowledgable in these matters!
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net