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Rig Tension |
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ellistine 
Really should get out more 
Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
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 Topic: Rig TensionPosted: 30 Apr 09 at 9:21am |
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I've heard lots of people mentioning that it's better to lower the rig tension in light winds. What is it about a lower rig tension that helps? |
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Contender 541
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Joined: 05 Dec 05 Location: Burton on Trent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1402 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 10:11am |
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In very light winds you want lower rig tension because it allows the rig to flex and 'catch' the wind rather than it hitting the sails and bouncing
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When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss
Crew on 505 8780 |
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JimC
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Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6661 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 1:33pm |
I don't know that I would go as far as saying that statement completely aligns with my (limited) understanding of the science involved... To me the key thing about light airs is that the air movement is far more random and less predictable, and so the rig needs to be set up to cope with that. The air speed also varies far more betweem the bottom of the mast and the top. That in turn means that the adjustments like kicker and downhaul will generally need to be looser. Things like settings of rig tension and so on may well be a bit more class or rig specific, because there are subtleties... Therer are boats where its good to force some bend into the mast in light airs for instance. Edited by JimC |
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kanga
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 09 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 248 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 1:39pm |
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It helps the slot of the mainsail and jib breathe better. You do not want it completly slack, else the energy from the wind goes in to pushing the mast, rather than filling the sails - but yes, slack in light winds. Some boats, in really heavy winds too, you slacking the rig tension so you have less mast rake too, which in turn depowers it.
Careful though, the boom is effectively lower when you do this, so its harder to get underneath it! |
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desteve1
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Joined: 23 Feb 09 Location: cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 81 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 3:34pm |
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when the sail is loose the sail can fill more (when there is too much wind you need to tighten the rig to help keep the boom in control)
Edited by desteve1 |
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laser 81188 (looking for a name)
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Medway Maniac
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Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 3:49pm |
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While I have paid lip service to the idea of lowering rig tension in light airs, I've never felt any benefit of it, and have always worried that I was, as Jim C says, missing out by losing my mast pre-bend. What is absolutely for sure in most classes, you will lose out big-time if you don't pull the tension back on when the wind comes up. I'd forget it and focus on kicker and sheet tensions, or lack of them. |
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ellistine
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Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 4:16pm |
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Of course at the moment it's difficult to say if our rig is tight or loose anyway. Obviously there's a limit to how tight you can pull the rig on a plastic boat. It's possible that our 'tight' setting is still relatively loose. The rig does seem to shudder a fair amount when sailing in waves. Might have to borrow me a tension gauge. I'll beat them Laser 2000's yet! |
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Medway Maniac
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Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 4:29pm |
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I note that the Vago rigging manual http://lasersailing.com/downloads/boat-manuals/Vago.pdf says you should not exceed 70kg on the shrouds - that's jaw-droppingly low. But you should beat the 2k's in light airs when your better sail area/wetted area ratio will help (if you use the XD rig). After that, the trapeze will help. The most significant performance factor in Vagos seems to be (we 3000's have shared a few events with them) sitting really far forward, and i mean really uncomfortably far forward anytime your not trapezing or planing - the transom drags hugely otherwise. Probably due to the boat weighting a lot more than designer Jo Richards reckoned with. |
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ellistine
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Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 5:07pm |
Yes. The wife and I have had a lot of 'cosy' time lately with me sat where she should sit and her hugging the mast. At least you can audibly tell when you're forward enough with the amount of gurgling that comes from the rear if you're not. Did you do the Rutland 2k, Vago, 3k, 5k event last year? That was our first ever race. Nearly enough to put us off racing for life! I think I can forget about the rig tension. Edited by ellistine |
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Medway Maniac
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Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
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Posted: 30 Apr 09 at 5:22pm |
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We sailed at Rutland, but last September at our Nats . Will you be at Grafham in June? Our Nats again. Looking at the rig tensioning arrangement on the Vago, i'd guess just pull on as much as you can comfortably by hand (no crew hanging off the forestay or whatever) and that should do. |
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