Adjustment Of Rigging While Sailing

[Flaw Show]

While researching the forestay I have had some thoughts on rigging adjustment while sailing.  Paragraph 10 of the Construction and Measurement rules clearly states that standing rigging (shrouds and forestay) cannot be adjusted while sailing.  Paragraph 11, covering running rigging (halyards, jib luff wire) does not state that adjustment cannot be carried out while sailing.

 

I had thought that adjustment of the jib halyard tension while sailing was not allowed.  However, I am now not sure that this is so.  And I have used an adjustable downhaul on my mainsail halyard for several years now instead of a cunningham eye....and I am definitely adjusting this while sailing.

 

Thoughts anyone?

 

Richard Gibson

10232 Flaw Show

[2 Goats]

Interesting... I also thought that adjustment of the jib halyard tension was explicitly prohibited. I always thought this rather ridiculous given that we can endlessly adjust the main luff tension throughout a race.

Still, it would require some thought and discussion before progressing to an adjustable jib halyard (and perhaps luff tension). I could see that this might add some cost and complication in terms of fittings and tension adjustment arrangements. If adjustable jib luff tension is available or becomes available, it would be smart to be able to create significant rig tension upwind and be able to ease it to allow the mast to fall forwards downwind.

I would be happy to dispense with my ridiculously loose rig tension and be able to adjust it to the conditions :)

I'll be keen to hear other thoughts.

Greg Harris
10205 Two Goats in a Boat?

[Georgia Llewellyn]

 Hi, 

Since recently moving into the 429 class my mind has been blown with all new information on jib luff downhawl and rig tension 

For us it makes a dramatic difference and everyone is different 

But! 

In the Heron class 

I have always grown up as a learning class, it is family oriented and suits new sailors.

If we were to add rig tension it would teach them if they were to move on (like me) 

But then it would be required to do it out on the water when learning 

If you forget about it and forget to either pull it on or change it the rig is sloppy and has little effect 

It puts the boat under a lot of strain to (believe me it's hard to pull on) 

But a heron an be man handled and as a junior 

I man handle the boat around 

You just pull on a hell of amount of bang and cunno to change the shape 

With a heron having such a small sail that doesn't really need rig tension to change the rake 

I personally don't see the point.

Jib downhawl 

I like but again with a small sail, how much difference is it going to make??

That's my opinion! 

Georgia Llewellyn

9972 The Force 

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[Georgia Llewellyn]

420 sorry 

Just to confirm 

Georgia Llewellyn

9972 The Force 

[Rhys Llewellyn]

A few definitions and ideas we need to clarify.
Is the wire inside the jib luff a forestay or halyard? Is it standing rigging when the boat is rigged?
Is the wire used to hold the mast up, while rigging the jib, the forestay and is this standing rigging?
Adjusting the jib halyard only adjusts your mast rake. Assuming nothing else is adjusted.
Adjusting jib halyard does not adjust jib luff tension in any heron I have seen since we went away from hanks.
So, if you wanted to adjust your jib halyard while sailing, you could increase your rake upwind but your rig would be very loose. You could then stand the rig more upright when sailing downwind and as a result tighten the rig.
Is there any advantage in this seeming a loose rig stands up when sailing downwind anyway?

To clarify Georgia's ideas, lots of rig tension has no real effect on things like mast prebend as we don't have spreaders.