In Mast Furling Question

[ssullivan]

Last week, I was on a new Jeanneau teaching an offshore sailing class.

We had an in mast furling unit that drove me nuts.

No matter what we did, the leech would luff when forward of about 70 degrees apparent wind. The head of the sail appeared to be 6" to 1 foot from the top of the slot the sail enters when furling and unfurling, leading me to believe the halyard had some slack.

I tightened the halyard with the sail unfurled, with no result.

The leech was just kind of loose. They had no boom vang, and the main sheet attached at about mid-boom. There was a boom brake.

Any ideas why I had so much trouble getting the leech to remain taught on this type of setup?

Is it something that happens often with in-mast furling units?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Vasco]

How tight was the outhaul? Did you try the leech line? What were the conditions? I presume you had a lot of "flutter" in the leech.

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by Vasco

How tight was the outhaul? Did you try the leech line? What were the conditions? I presume you had a lot of "flutter" in the leech.

The outhaul was winched fairly tight, to the point where someone had marked a spot to winch it out to. It was well beyond what anyone could do by hand - there was substantial tension, similar to halyard tension.

I did not fiddle with the leech line.

Conditions were normal - 10 knots of wind, close reach to close hauled. Calm seas.

Yes, I had flutter (called it luffing, but flutter is probably more appropriate).

[chuckr]

try tightening the leach line - should solve the problem - but remember to release it before pulling the sail in - i sail a jeanneau ds40 with inmast -
chuck and svsoulmates
ki4sry
on the hook westbrook,ct