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Good points Daniel, but how will loosening the Vang help while on a beat, which is what we are talking about.... right

If you are close hauled, loosening the vang won't do anything to spill off wind.

G

Im with Moe on this one - points of sail defined by apparent wind. Especially important in light air, when the boat speed approaches the wind speed. If boat speed = wind speed, a beam reach turns into closehauled!!

Good points Daniel, but how will loosening the Vang help while on a beat, which is what we are talking about.... right

If you are close hauled, loosening the vang won't do anything to spill off wind.

You're right. I'll clarify: in strong winds if the boat if overpowered then it might help to loosen the vang to let air spill off the top of the sail but the main sheet needs to be eased a little. On my M when in heavy wind, I let the traveller and then on the gusts I ease the main. When the main is eased it may be better to not have a real tight vang because of what I said earlier. The vang won't have much effect when the main sheet is tight as you stated.

Of course there's a point at which you just want to put in a reef.

Daniel

Im with Moe on this one - points of sail defined by apparent wind. Especially important in light air, when the boat speed approaches the wind speed. If boat speed = wind speed, a beam reach turns into closehauled!!

That's what makes ice boating interesting. You can be creeping along going DDW, then head off a little on a broad reach and before you know it the boat picks up speed and the apparent wind has come around so you're sheeted tight!

Daniel