Tell tales: where and why

   I think most people have one on the jib luff, or main luff. That they use upwind when sheet on to test their heading and off-wind to get correct sheeting angle...
But moving beyond that... what other tell tales do you use?

How many, where and for what reason? 

Do you have any rules of thumb for getting them positioned right?

Do you use other visual guides like calibration, depth lines or sheeting lines?

Any links to decent article or book on this? 

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Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Topic: Tell tales: where and why Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 9:01am
	I think most people have one on the jib luff, or main luff. That they use upwind when sheet on to test their heading and off-wind to get correct sheeting angle... But moving beyond that... what other tell tales do you use? How many, where and for what reason? Do you have any rules of thumb for getting them positioned right? Do you use other visual guides like calibration, depth lines or sheeting lines? Any links to decent article or book on this?

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 9:10am
	I have luff tell tales on my una-rig but never look at them. I use tell tales on jib on my Mirror,that's it really.

cad99uk Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 11 Mar 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 187	Post Options Post Reply Quote cad99uk Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 9:18am
	Leech tell tales. A must have imho.

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 9:34am
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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 10:14am
	Luff teltails on the Blaze mainsail and Spice jib and main. Telltails on the Blaze shrouds but not very useful in practice.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

AlanH Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 17 Apr 10 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 84	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlanH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 10:19am
	I swear by a leech tell tale on the genoa, see the window on main for crew to view the tell tale. Leech tell tales good on main as well, esp on reaches. I have camber lines on some sails, but don't use them very much. I think North Sails have a Sail Trim series, possibly of 3 books, might be worth a look. Thanks to Graeme Pinkerton for pic.

CT249 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jul 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Post Options Post Reply Quote CT249 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 10:47am
	Leach telltales are very important IMHO. In a surprising number of boats, in moderate winds you're at your best if they flick behind the mainsail leach half the time, but only for a second or two. A couple of luff telltales on the jib for steering to; maybe three or four in a line along the luff, to judge twist. That'll do me. Edited by CT249 - 09 Apr 19 at 10:47am

bustinben Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 15 Oct 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 288	Post Options Post Reply Quote bustinben Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 10:49am
	I stuck telltales all over my Laser sail to see what was going on. What I discovered was so disconcerting that I quickly took them all off again! Flow is reversed in the back quarter of the sail on the leeward side in sub 8 knots It also showed me what the furthest forward point you can stick them is. My rule of thumb is as far forward as possible, but far back enough to avoid the turbulent flow caused by the mast. I've got one that is right on the edge of disturbed area, so in some wind strengths it never flies and for when that's happening I've got one a little bit further back. I also stick one in a similar position at the top of the rig for setting the kicker on reaches in up to overpowered conditions. It lets you know if the top of the rig is too loose and you need to pull some kicker on. Edited by bustinben - 09 Apr 19 at 10:51am

Fatboi Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 09 Aug 16 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 189	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fatboi Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 12:13pm
	Something written by Steve Cockerill I remember reading a while ago https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/201465/Where-should-I-put-my-telltales

iGRF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499	Post Options Post Reply Quote iGRF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 19 at 12:19pm
	Found them really deceptive and disconcerting, when you set them so they look as they should according to all the manuals, you go really slow. (tried them years ago on a sailboard rig) never look at them these days, use the force, it's much more reliable. Edited by iGRF - 09 Apr 19 at 12:34pm
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