Leech Lines
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1135
Printed Date: 14 Aug 25 at 10:12pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Leech Lines
Posted By: fizzicist
Subject: Leech Lines
Date Posted: 22 Oct 05 at 10:52am
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I noticed (having only owned the boat 18 months!) that there is a leech line on my mainsail. I've not done anything with it, but I'm curious as to wht it does & when you should tension it etc... ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Replies:
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 22 Oct 05 at 2:55pm
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It tensions the leech and causes it to curl in. You probably need to pull it on so the leech just stops motorboating (I think that's the correct term) -vibrating loudly and then leave it there. ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 22 Oct 05 at 2:59pm
| "Motoring" is the usual term I've heard. But yes - as loose as possible consistent with the leech not shaking. |
Posted By: Harry44981!
Date Posted: 23 Oct 05 at 8:55pm
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make sure you have one of the best sailors at your club in your class/ at an open to guide you, as in the Topper certainly you can ruin a sail by overtighting the leech line. ------------- |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 23 Oct 05 at 10:19pm
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toppers have leech lines? are we talking about effectively a cord running from the mast head to the outboard end of the boom, inside the leach of the sail? none of the toppers ive sailed have that... ------------- |
Posted By: Harry44981!
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 1:44pm
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Yes both the old and new design sails definately have leech lines. You could have been sailing with an unofficial training sail? ------------- |
Posted By: Wave Rider
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 6:47pm
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Yeah i can also assure you that racing topper sail's have leech and foot lines. ------------- -[Franko]- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933 |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 6:51pm
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They never had these in the good old days; Danny Robbins or Gastraa sails disn't have leech lines. I guess this is somthing Hyde introduced ... ------------- |
Posted By: Harry44981!
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 7:31pm
yeah, well by "old style" I mean the hyde sails that were used before the contract being passed over to another manufacturer this year (with a slighly different design), not the real old school sails some of you wil have used! ------------- |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 7:40pm
Definantly official sails... obviously im just really unobservant  ------------- |
Posted By: anonsteve1
Date Posted: 24 Oct 05 at 8:12pm
| I remember those...I remember thinking "ooh thats another bit of string I can pull. Ah, memories... |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 02 Nov 05 at 5:24pm
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What's a leech line? Anyone got a picture? I never heard of them...
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Wave Rider
Date Posted: 02 Nov 05 at 5:30pm
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Its a bit of thin rope coming out of the leech near the clew which you can pull to tension the luff. Similarly there is a line coming out the foot of the sail on a topper which does the same but to the foot and not the leech! ------------- -[Franko]- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933 |
Posted By: gonzo
Date Posted: 02 Nov 05 at 8:02pm
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All the older topper sails that i have sailed on or taught on have leach lines and progressively need tightening as the sails stretch but i havnt seen them on the new style sails. Dont tighten unless you know what your doing ive seen people pull them or kids hang on to them and its a whole say gone to waste |
Posted By: terraslazer
Date Posted: 03 Nov 05 at 4:02pm
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i was crewing on a spitfire cat and i notices there was one on the leech of the spinny. ------------- Laser Radial For Sale For Details And Pictures See http://mylaserforsale.orbitaltec.net/ |