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Author
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Topic: Cunningham?
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Shortstay
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 11:50 AM
   
OK, time to display my ignorance -- yet again -- to the group... (Heck, Ken, Fred, Darcy, Eric & several others have forgotten more about sailing than I'll ever know!)I know I know what a Cunningham is. It's living somewhere back in the deep, dark recesses of my brain, somewhere. But for the life of me, I can't remember what is does & how it works. Could someone enlighten me? (Though perhaps Don would prefer elucidating it for me.  ) While we're at it, how about a little primer on main set. I know in lighter air you want less tension to let the sail make more of a wing profile & the opposite in heavy air. So we got, what, the outhaul, vang, topping lift, a cunningham...? I know I should just go buy a book or find a link,,, or better yet go sail, but a little knowledge would be a good thing... or in my case, a dangerous thing! Thanks!
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Kevin
Shortstay III, #901 IP: 198.115.167.199 |
2short S565
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 12:15 PM
Cunnigham controls tension in leading edge of the sail. It is a grommet located a few inches above the tack with a line that pulls down on the leading edge of the sail itself (as opposed to a downhaul that pulls down on the boom).But what do I know I don't even own a boat at the present time. Fred IP: 205.207.185.116 |
CoolBreeze
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 12:29 PM
Hello, as mentioned, it pulls down on the leading edge. As talked about in another post, some people adjust their halyard tension to achieve a similar effect. Problem is, if you tighten the mail sail too tight by halyard, rather than cunningham, you will start to see vertical lines in your sail...i.e. it is too tight. Horizontal lines, you are not tight enough. Consider the cunningham (when on) as another point for the tack in regards to the leading edge. This allows you to still adjust your outhaul as nessesary based on your main sail tack. this is definately something that is difficult to explain in full and should be experimented with on your boat. ------------------
Rob Belliveau
1976 Sandpiper 565
"Cool Breeze"
Halifax NS
Soon to be at DYC IP: 24.224.173.200 |
Darcy
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 01:14 PM
One of the best ways to learn all these things is to go to an event like the Sandpiper Rendezvous. You can tie up next to a whole mess of boats and compare rigging, gear, controls, etc.Sailors are by nature an extremely helpful group. You could probably even go out sailing with a few different people who would show you how they adjust their sails. Much can be learned at a "Raid" or "Rendezvous". D'Arcy IP: 65.92.97.121 |
Roger
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 02:17 PM
http://www.sailingsource.com/neilpryde/manual/trim.htm The above link has some good information. Also Don Guillette has an excellent book on sail trim.
http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/menunew.tpl?fno=501 IP: 216.55.192.41 |
Shortstay
Member
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posted October 13, 2004 05:22 PM
Thanks for those replies.D'Arcy, we'd love to come to the rendevous & will if we can. Roger, thanks for those links. IP: 198.115.167.198 | |
