ABW Sept 2023-1

Handling the
Mainsail
Sail controls
Every cruising boat will be equipped with various forms of sail
control. The sophistication of the equipment will depend on how
much you want to spend. For most cruising boats nothing very
Fitting slugs
on the luff of
the mainsail
elaborate is usually either needed or wanted. However, it is a help
if the mainsheet is mounted on adjustable traveller so that you
can control the amount of downward tension on the sail, and
the angle of the sail to the centerline of the boat. A kicking strap
is also needed to exert downward pressure on the boom and
mainsail, and a downhaul and outhaul can be fitted to the luff
and leech of the sail respectively to tension the luff and the foot
of the mainsail. Battens can be used to stiffen the leech of the sail
and adjustable fairleads can be fitted through which the headsail
sheets can be led to give a better set to the sail.
Mainsheet system
Mainsail reefing line
The mainsheet controls the angle of the mainsail to the
centerline of the boat, and is often mounted on the traveller
running on an athwartships track. The traveller gives greater
control over the sheeting angle and over the leech tension. In
light winds it should be set to windward of the centerline and
the mainsheet eased to put out the boom in the center of the
boat to produce an even curve on the leech of the mainsail.
In moderate winds, the traveller should be set in the center
and the mainsheet tension adjusted to keep the top batten
Profurl roller
furling jib clew
parallel with the boom. In stronger winds, the traveller should
be eased to leeward with the mainsheet kept tight, to reduce
the amount of heeling force on the boat. You will find it easier
to gauge the leech tension if tell-tales are used. It will correct
when all tell-tales stream aft.
Kicking strap
The clew out-
haul fastened
to the boom
end and to the
clew of the sail
Most cruising boats need a kicking strap with a purchase power of
at least six to one, preferably with the end of the purchase led to
a winch to give greater power. If no kicking strap is fitted, power
will be lost when sailing off-wind as the leech of the sail will twist
forward, and the boat will roll when broad reaching or running. A
tightened kicking strap will effectively stop this, by preventing the
boom from rising and falling, which causes the sail to chafe on
the shrouds and spreaders. Increased purchase on the kicking strap
allows the mainsheet to be used for lateral control.
Mainsheet traveller
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