File - Canadian Wayfarer Association

A wide sheeting angle with its tighter leech results in a slot that is narrow at the top and wide
at the base. Unfortunately, then the slot can only be right at one place along the entire length.
Many people believe that by moving the leads inwards, they will point higher, simply because they
are bringing the jib further in. In fact, they may well point higher, but not for this reason. What
happens is that the air can get through the eased slot more easily, reducing congestion and
backwind. The jib can also be sheeted as a complete unit throughout its height without the need
for excessive leech tension.
The fairleads should be positioned, and the sheet ten-sioned, so that all three windward
windtufts collapse at the same time, and so that the back of the jib parallels the leeward bulge
of the mainsail (i.e. to give a parallel slot). If the slot is right but the top tuft lifts first, try moving
the lead aft slightly to enable you to keep a parallel slot while sheeting in tighter. If the
bottom tuft lifts first, reverse the procedure. To do this check on land, choose a day with 8 to
10 knot winds. Position the boat in clear, non-turbulent wind, put appropriate tension, about 150
kg (330 lbs.), on the jib halliard, and put the boat on a close-hauled course. Once all the
windward tufts lift in unison like well regi-mented soldiers, you may wish to check the angle of
attack by standing directly in the eye of the wind about 6 meter (20') from the boat. If the
windtufts are doing their job properly, you should be able to see neither the windward nor the
leeward side of the jib throughout the luff length. If you can see one or the other side, then you
will have to start again. For instance, if the leeward side at the bottom is exposed, the sheet has
to be moved further aft to flatten the bottom of the sail. The further forward one has to stand
in order to get this ‘in line’ effect, the better the boat will point, and vice versa. At this stage, it
is possible to see if a closer sheeting angle will make you point better, simply by pulling the sheet
in towards the centreline between the lead and the clew while re-organizing the fore and aft
tension to get the tufts working properly once more. If you now have to stand further forward
to get that luff coming straight towards you, then you will point better. A final check of the slot
is now in order. If everything is as it ought to be, you should still see a parallel slot between the
back of the jib and the leeward bulge of the mainsail, when you stand aft of the boat 22 .
22 Al Schönborn’s note: On “Shades”, we simply put the lead in a position where, with the genoa
sheeted in, a straight line from mid-genoa luff through mid-clew cringle would meet the front
seat. What with 5” of upper leech coming in for every 1” of sheet, it is simply a matter of
sheeting in until the top and bottom tickers flow the same way, i.e. when I sail to keep the lower
tickers in the position shown in diagram 1, my crew adjusts the sheet so that the upper tickers
match that position [or we get the same effect by using the upper leech ticker on the genoa]. By
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