26s Main Sail Tensioning

[tomchitecture]

So I have this pucker or wrinkle in the main that runs from half way up the luff down to the clew. Seems like it wants a vang or a downhaul on the boom or I may need a winch for the main halyard. I am giving it all the tension I can with arm power.

Now, I do have an interesting sail design that might be the problem. There is the main tack to the sail, and then about 8 inches up, there seems to be a secondary tack with no corresponding eye on the leech. If I put the "second tack" in the reef hook, I bet the foil would trim properly.

Advice Anyone?

"Puzzled in Cincinnati"

[Hamin' X]

What you have is a Cunningham. Run a line from below the boom on one side, up through the Cunningham grommet and back down the other side. This will give you a 2:1 purchase on the forefoot of the sail and allow you to take out your wrinkles.

~Rich

[heinzir]

The "second tack" is called a mainsail Cunningham. It is used to tension the luff of the main, but not by putting it on the reefing hook. A small tackle (4:1 is common) is hooked into this grommet and the other end is fastened at the base of the mast. Pulling the tail of this tackle will tighten the luff of the sail. It is more efficient than just pulling on the halyard by hand because of 1) the 4:1 mechanical advantage and 2) it bypasses the friction of the slides or boltrope in the track.

[FinallySailing]

Ronstan has a nice page on how to do this:

http://www.ronstan.co.uk/marine5/cunnin ... ystems.asp

[c130king]

Just another thought on getting proper tension on the luff...and not sure if this applies to a 26S...

Ensure both the main sheet and boom vang are "loose" as you hoist the main...any downward tension on boom can cause tension on the leech which translates into increased friction on the slugs as they go up the track. Bottom line...the main won't go all the way up and you end up with some "looseness" down at the bottom.

At least on my that is what happens.

I don't have a cunningham cringle on my main.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[Sumner]

If the sail has a bolt rope, I'll bet that the bolt rope has shrunk. Our main had this problem and .....



....it wasn't very hard to fix....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ing-3.html

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

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[Judy B]

So I have this pucker or wrinkle in the main that runs from half way up the luff down to the clew. Seems like it wants a vang or a downhaul on the boom or I may need a winch for the main halyard. I am giving it all the tension I can with arm power.

Now, I do have an interesting sail design that might be the problem. There is the main tack to the sail, and then about 8 inches up, there seems to be a secondary tack with no corresponding eye on the leech. If I put the "second tack" in the reef hook, I bet the foil would trim properly.

Advice Anyone?

"Puzzled in Cincinnati"

Could you show us a picture? Otherwise we're just taking wild guesses. With a picture, we've got a good chance of figuring it out.

Judy B

[tomchitecture]

You have all been kind enough to read and respond and I was lacking in posting my resolution. The winner is, (Cunningham) This is my third sailboat and had managed to never see one before in my life. I rigged the lines properly for it and have sailed with it. I also have a leech line that I engaged last Saturday in really light air. Not used to having all of this control.
Thank you to all who read and responded.

Less confused in Cincinnati.

[Catigale]

Rich is an expert on Cunninghams and Chris on Cringles, no doubt...

[vizwhiz]

Rich is an expert on Cunninghams and Chris on Cringles, no doubt...

Grooaannn....(oh that hurts).

[Catigale]

Apologies.... Good material forces me to pick a pocket....