6 – Running 43

Section 6

Running Rigging

Bitter End. The inboard end of a line, chain, or cable. Line Stopper ( Clutch). A clamp-type device that The end made fast to the vessel, as opposed to the contains a cam for securing a line. It can be released “working end,” which may be attached to an anchor, quickly. , or other vessel. Tackle. An arrangement of line and blocks used to provide Vang. A tackle, usually running between the boom increased mechanical advantage. and the base of the , which removes twist from the by downward pull on the boom. Traveller. A sail-positioning system composed of an athwartships track on which slides a car attached to blocks Cleat. Fitting, usually with two projecting horns, to which to permit positioning the main boom under load. lines are made fast. Turning . A block used to change the direction of . A line or tackle used to exert a downward pull a line (such as a or ) to make hauling more on a sail or . convenient.

® 1 The lines used to hoist and trim comprise the run- 5 are almost always Dacron because ning rigging. This section discusses these lines and fit- it can take the loads created by the wind in the spinnaker tings and the layout of the fittings on the deck. while keeping weight aloft to a minimum.

Halyards 6 In use, one end of the halyard is attached to the head 2 A halyard is a line used to hoist and lower a sail or flag. of the sail, usually by shackling, or knotting, and the The main halyard is used for raising the ; the bitter end of the halyard is pulled until the sail reaches halyard for raising a jib; and the spinnaker halyard its designed height. On large boats, are used to for raising a spinnaker. facilitate hoisting sails. The halyard is then cleated and the bitter end is coiled. With more recent deck layouts, ® 3 Most small boat halyards are made of Dacron with a which use line-handling systems and rope clutches, spliced or knotted to one end. On larger boats, winches are located near the cockpit. the jib and main halyards are sometimes made of wire spliced to a rope tail. The tail facilitates handling the Sheets end of the halyard as the sail is hoisted, while the wire 7 Sheets are lines that control sail shape, position, and portion, which is all that remains exposed to the load angle of attack. On some boats, the only control for the once the sail is hoisted, is better at resisting stretch and shape of the mainsail is the mainsheet. As the sheet is chafe. With the variety of low-stretch line now available, eased, the boom end is allowed to fall away from the many applications where wire rope was the best choice centerline of the boat and rise at the same time. As the are now better served by the fiber which include mainsheet is hauled in, the boom end returns toward the Spectra®, Kevlar®, and Technora®. centerline, and is pulled down. This arrangement works for small boats, but it is not an efficient method of trim- 4 Halyards may run inside the mast and thus reduce wind- ming the mainsail. age. Main halyards normally are located on the starboard side of the mast; jib halyards on the port side.

Sail 44 6 – Running Rigging

8 At a given wind angle, moving the boom relative to the Mast centerline changes the angle between the wind and the sail. Raising or lowering the boom changes the shape of the sail. As the boom rises, the top of the sail twists open and the angle between the wind and the sail near the top of the sail is reduced. To keep all of the sail at Mast Track the best angle to the wind, it is desirable to have one control system to pull the boom down and a separate system to move it from side to side.

Mainsheet Traveller 9 The mainsheet Traveller consists of a track, a car Boom mounted on the track, turning blocks, and car posi- tioning control lines and cleats, see Figure 6‑1. The track is mounted athwartships near the cockpit, that is, it extends from port to starboard. This allows the car to move from one side to the other on the track when the boat changes tacks. The car, which is typically mounted on roller bearings, is moved along the track Integral Cam to position the end of the boom inboard or outboard Cleat of the centerline of the boat. 10 Within the range of travel of the car, mainsheet Travel- lers permit independent control of mainsail leech ten- Figure 6–2 Boom Vang sion and angle of the sail to the wind. The mainsheet is used primarily to control leech tension, while the ler, that is, on reaches and downwind. It is usually a Traveller is used to position the boom in relation to tackle that is attached to the boom and then to some the centerline of the boat. Similar traveller systems are strong connection on the boat. On small boats it may used to permit fore and aft adjustment of the jib sheet be permanently attached to the mast at deck level or lead. Fore and aft adjustment accommodates different to the deck itself. A vang rigged to a stanchion base sized and varying wind conditions. should never be used as a . The stanchion may not be strong enough to take the load. The vang Boom Vang controls the shape of the leech of the sail when the boat is sailing on a reach or directly downwind and 11 The boom vang removes twist from the sail by pull- ing downward on the boom, Figure 6‑2. It is used at the sheet is eased to a point where the traveller is no sail angles beyond the range of the mainsheet Travel- longer effective. Tightening the vang hauls the boom end down and straightens the leech. This straightening Mainsheet provides a more uniform angle of the mainsail to the wind than when the boom end is allowed Tu rning Block Cam Cleat to rise. When sailing directly downwind, more sail area is presented to the wind, which trans- lates to greater speed. On some larger boats, solid vangs adjusted by hydraulic cylinders or springs with rope tackle are used instead of Track an all rope tackle. The solid vang serves both Car as a boom vang and as a support for the boom Car Positioning Control Lines when the mainsail is reefed or lowered. Like the tackle, the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the boom some distance abaft the gooseneck and runs diagonally downward to a connection at Figure 6–1 Main Sheet Traveller System

Sail 6 – Running Rigging 45

deck level. It can also be used to lift the boom in light air when mainsail twist may be desirable. Well-rigged boats have both a mainsheet traveller and a boom vang. Mainsail

Cunningham 12 A control line is used to adjust the position Clew (Reinforced) of the maximum of a mainsail or headsail. When used on a headsail, it is sometimes termed a jib down- Clew haul, Figure 6‑3. In any case, this line is used to adjust Block the draft position in the sail. Most sails, main or jib, are Sail Slide hoisted with some slack in the luff. The fine adjustments Sail Track are done with the cunningham. Outhaul cleat Boom 13 When tension is applied to the jib cunningham line, the luff tension is increased and the position of the maximum draft (depth) is pulled forward, permitting optimum draft Figure 6–4 Main OuthaulMAIN OUTHAUL location for the given wind conditions. As the wind Boom Downhaul increases, more tension is applied. 16 The gooseneck connects the boom to the mast. Figure 6‑5. Some goosenecks are fitted on a slide or track. A Outhaul downhaul attached below the gooseneck, often as a 14 control tension on the foot of the mainsail. Sail tackle to increase mechanical advantage, permits the shape and, therefore, efficiency is determined in several adjustment of tension on the luff of a hoisted mainsail. ways. The outhaul determines the amount of draft in the If the boom is affixed directly to the mast, a cunningham lower hal of the sail. rig is necessary to adjust tension on the mainsail luff. Mast 15 Once tension and mast bend are set, the main- sail’s shape is largely controlled by the tension of the Mast Track halyard and downhaul, the cunningham, the sheet, the Boom Hinge outhaul, and the boom vang. Just as the cunningham or Car downhaul can be used to apply tension to the luff of the mainsail, the outhaul can tighten or ease the foot of the sail, Figure 6‑4. An outhaul is a line used to pull the clew Cleat of the mainsail outward towards the end of the boom. It goes through a turning block and back towards the mast to a cleat. Gooseneck

Luffwire Downhaul Block Downhaul Line Jibstay Cringle To Pad Eye or Eye Strap

Jib Cunningham on Opposite Side of Mast

Fairlead

Figure 6–5 Boom Downhaul Cleat Shackle

Figure 6–3 Jib Cunningham

Sail 46 6 – Running Rigging

Topping Lift 17 The is used to support horizontal spars from the mast. The line permanently rigged from the masthead to the aft end of the boom to hold the boom off the deck when the mainsail is down is a topping lift. Figure 6‑6. The topping lift supports the boom when the boat is at its mooring, and during the reefing process. The topping lift Lazy Jacks temporarily supports the boom and sail as reefs are tied in or as the sail is lowered during reefing. Some topping lifts are attached to and supported by the backstay rather than running directly to the masthead. The topping lift is essential equipment in boats. A parted halyard or a ripped mainsail could result in the boom dropping and causing injury. The line used to support a is also called a topping lift. Line To Top Of Mast Batten Cars

Aft End Figure 6–7 Lazy Jacks and Batten Cars Of Boom Sail Handling Systems ® 19 A popular sail handling system is the Dutchman , where several mono-filament lines are run through the sail from foot to topping lift. When the sail is dropped, the sail automatically folds accordian-like against the boom.

Spinnaker Pole 20 A spinnaker pole, supported by a topping lift, is used to hold the tack of a spinnaker to windward as the boat Figure 6–6 Topping Lift is sailing off the wind, Figure 6‑8. The pole’s outboard end fitting is snapped around the (the control line Lazy Jacks and Batten Cars connected to the tack of the spinnaker). The inboard end 18 Fully battened require lazy jacks and some fitting is snapped to a ring on the forward side of the mast. type of control system such as batten cars to facilitate At both ends, the jaws of the pole should be positioned their use, Figure 6‑7. Lazy jacks are lines that run so that they open upward. This makes it easy to unrig diagonally to the boom from part way up the mast to the pole for jibing or taking the spinnaker down. trap the fully battened mainsail when it is lowered. Lazy jacks prevent the heavy sail from falling away 21 A topping lift rigged on the mast is used to raise and from the boom onto the deck of the boat. The sail can lower the spinnaker pole. Generally, a spinnaker pole be lowered from the cockpit for later furling. Batten also has a foreguy (also called a downhaul) rigged to the cars are fittings attached at the inboard end of full foredeck. The topping lift, the foreguy, and the spinnaker length battens to reduce friction between the mast guy permit positioning the spinnaker pole in the desired and the battens when the mainsail is being raised. fore-and-aft and up or down location.

Sail 6 – Running Rigging 47

Spinnaker Halyard Whisker Pole 22 Whisker poles are less elaborate than spinnaker poles,

Radial Head but serve a similar purpose. They are used to hold the Spinnaker clews of jibs out during downwind sailing, Figure 6‑9. Whisker poles are essential for effective down-wind sailing.

23 To pping Usually, a hook or a snap on the inboard end of the Lift whisker pole attaches through a ring on the mast. On some whisker poles a pin on the outboard end is pushed through the grommet at the clew of the sail. Applying Spinnaker Spinnaker Pole Sheet (Inboard end tension to the sheet helps hold the sail and pole out. secures to track on mast for up and down adjustment) Fittings 24 An assortment of blocks, cleats, and winches are used Foreguy in conjunction with the running rigging of a boat. Guy 25 Blocks are commonly called pulleys by people ashore. A block is used to change the direction of the pull on a line and, when used in combination with other blocks, Figure 6–8 Spinnaker and Rigging to provide a mechanical advantage to the person pulling the line. Ball bearing blocks that have very little friction are available, Figure 6‑10 Jib Halyard Mast

Jib

Uphaul or Topping Lift Figure 6–10 Low Friction Turning Block

Whisker Pole

Lazy Sheet Downhaul

Jibsheet

Figure 6–9 Whisker Pole and Rigging

Sail 48 6 – Running Rigging

26 Cleats are fittings used to tie off lines that are under load. Traditional horn cleats (see Figure 6‑11), clam cleats, and cam cleats are in widespread use. Horn cleats are the most reliable but are the slowest to make fast and cast off. Clam cleats are the least expensive and are easy to set and cast off, but they have limited durability. When worn, a clam cleat may slip without warning. Cam cleats are very popular aboard small boats. Ball bearing cam cleats are available that are particularly easy to set and release and have long lives, Figure 6‑12. On cruis- ing boats, line stoppers (also called a rope clutches) are increasingly coming into use. Line stoppers work on a cam and lever principle. They consist of two or more side-by-side gang cleats that facilitate tying off several lines after each line is tensioned by a single . They Figure 6–13 Line Stopper or Rope Clutch enable one winch to service several lines, Figure 6‑13 27 Winches are used to trim heavily loaded lines. Small and Figure 6‑15. boat snubbing winches have no handles for cranking; larger winches do. When the line is tailed (tensioned), the handle provides a mechanical advantage and the friction of the line wrapped around the drum greatly reduces the load at the line’s bitter end. The mechanical advantage of the winch is often increased by gearing within the winch.

28 When using a winch, wrap the line around the winch in a clockwise direction, piling the wraps up from the bottom to the top of the winch drum. The heavier the load you expect to build up on the line, the more turns you should put around the drum. Large winches have Figure 6–11 Horn Cleat different operating speeds. Turning the winch handle in one direction moves the winch head quickly. Turning the Spring Line Loaded Jaws winch handle in the other direction slows the rotation of the winch head but reduces the force required to turn the winch.

Winch Handle Jaws Ramp

Drum 3 to 4 Wraps Figure 6–12 Ball-BearingCam Cleat on Winch

From Block Figure 6–14 Self-tailing Winch

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29 Winches with a jaw-like pair of plates are self-tailing Deck Layout winches, Figure 6‑14. When the free end of the line 33 How the boat is used, regardless of its size, will have a (the tail) is led over the ramp and pulled into the jaws, great deal to do with how the deck is laid out. It will also the winch can be cranked and the line will be pulled in determine the amount of money that a sailor will spend evenly without having anyone keep tension on the tail, on equipment. More sophisticated sailing requires more i.e., tailing. sophisticated equipment.

30 Overriding turns on a winch occur when one of the first 34 A sailor who never gets farther than a few miles or so wraps on a winch lies on top of a subsequent wrap. When from the pier may enjoy sailing as much as the person this occurs, the bitter end is trapped under the loaded who crosses great oceans in small boats. Staying close line and usually cannot be released by simply pulling on to home port usually entails having only the essential it. To release the override, take up the load on a second equipment on your boat. Extensive cruising or offshore line led to a different winch. When the overridden line racing will require appreciably more elaborate equip- is slack, it is easy to release. An overridden line can also ment. be released by momentarily luffing sails to unload the overridden line. See Figure 20–9. 35 Crew size is another consideration. If most of your sailing is short-handed, more gear and sail-handling equipment 31 To prevent overriding turns and jamming, the winch will be required. A full crew gives more hands to do the should be located so that the line to be trimmed leads tasks. One-design boats may have the location of their upward onto the winch drum as illustrated in Figure deck fittings established by class rules, while others offer 6–14. greater latitude.

32 Also, during initial trimming, when there is little or no 36 Whatever the boat size or design, the placement of any resisting force because of sail size and wind force and deck-mounted safety gear should be considered before the winch spins freely, take only one or two turns on the placement of sail-handling gear or lines. Safety gear winch to prevent overrides. Add more turns around the should immediately be accessible when needed. This winch drum as the resisting force in the sails increases. would include life-lines (jack lines), Lifeslings, man- Make certain that fingers are not caught between the line overboard pole assembly, heaving lines, and any other and the winch drum. Always position your hands so the equipment that is part of the safety plan. back of the hand faces away from the drum.

Linestopper Turning Blocks

Winch

Deck Layout for Eight Lines or Mast Halyards Using Two Winches

Linestopper

Turning Blocks

Cleated Lines Figure 6–15 Deck Layout

Sail 50 6 – Running Rigging

37 Placement of turning blocks, winches, tracks and cleats 42 All primary lines should be grouped together by cat- may have been done by the boat manufacturer according egory, as should all secondary lines. It may be possible to positions recommended by the boat designer. How- that each of these groupings can be served by one winch ever, when ordering a new boat, decisions need to made with line-stoppers. as to internal or external halyards, what types of winches to use, etc. Good winches with self-tailing capability are 43 In any event, bear in mind that the trim or adjustment expensive, but the self-tailing feature greatly facilitates gear should be so placed that the crew doing the adjust- trimming, particularly when short-handed. ment can watch the sail.

38 Before the introduction of the line stopper, each halyard Summary and other heavily loaded line had its own winch. This 44 The lines used to hoist and trim sails constitute the created problems because each winch had to be spaced running rigging. A halyard is a line used to hoist a sail. so as to have a free arc for the handle. By using line Sheets control sail shape. The mainsheet Traveller en- stoppers, one winch is able to serve three, four, or more ables moving the end of the boom inboard and outboard. functions, Figure 6‑15. The limiting factor is that no The boom vang pulls the boom down and removes twist functions that have to be performed at the same time from the sail. Winches are used to trim heavily loaded should be led to the same line stopper and winch set. lines. Overriding turns on a winch occur when one of the first wraps on a winch lays on top of a subsequent 39 The number of halyards and sails and types of sails to be wrap. When this occurs, the loaded line usually cannot used drive the design of the deck layout. Crew number be released by simply pulling on it. To prevent overrid- and their needs must be considered. Weight distribution ing turns and jamming, the winch should be located so is important if the boat is to be raced. After all the gear that the line to be trimmed leads upward onto the winch has been placed, is there still room to move about safely drum. Also, during initial trimming when there is little on the deck? Is there room to work; to sit? or no resisting force and the winch spins around quickly, take only one turn on the winch. Add more turns when 40 A good procedure may be to make a mock-up of the the resisting load increases. Line stoppers are ganged deck layout. Use tape and paper cutouts of the size of rope clutches that enable one winch to service several the equipment to be mounted. Don’t forget to include lines. winch handle clearances. This procedure could prevent having to relocate some equipment.

41 Small and lightly loaded sails can be quickly trimmed with only a one speed winch. However, large and heav- ily loaded sails require a winch with a second or even a third speed in order to reduce the turning force needed by the crew for final trimming.

Sail 6 – Running Rigging 51

Homework: Section 6: Running Rigging Name ______

1. Halyards are used to: a) raise and lower sails. b) adjust boom location. c) adjust the foot of the sail. d) raise and lower spinnaker poles.

2. Sheets are used to: a) hoist the sails. b) control the sails. c) attach the whisker pole to the mast. d) attach the tack of the sail to the boat.

3. A topping lift is used to: a) support the anchor. b) support a horizontal spar from the mast. c) support the mast. d) support the line stopper.

4. A gooseneck is used to: a) connect the boom to the mast. b) control the jib. c) keep the boom from swinging on the mast. d) prevent chafing of the sails on the shrouds.

5. When the mainsheet is eased, the: a) boom is lowered. b) jib must be hauled in. c) boom moves toward the centerline. d) boom falls away from centerline.

6. For better control of the mainsail, the boat should include a: a) topping lift. b) vang and Traveller. c) telescoping whisker pole. d) double-ended gooseneck.

7. The boom: a) is attached to the mast by the halyard. b) will rise when the mainsheet is tightened. c) is held down by the vang when sailing downwind. d) is lowered to increase the lateral resistance of the boat.

Sail 52 6 – Running Rigging

8. A spinnaker pole: a) has its weight supported by a halyard. b) is operated by a crewman called the spinnaker guy. c) should be positioned so that the jaws open upward for ease of unrigging. d) is used to hold the tack of the spinnaker to leeward when the boat is sailing off the wind.

9. Winches are used to: a) hold the boom off the deck. b) provide mechanical advantage for steering. c) provide a mechanical advantage for line handling. d) hoist the boat out of the water after a day of sailing.

10. The cunningham controls: a) leech twist. b) luff tension. c) foot tension. d) leech tension.

11. As regards the uses of hardware: a) blocks are used to tie off lines. b) winches are used to handle very heavy loads. c) the vang is used to control the shape of the jib. d) cleats are used to change the direction of pull on a line.

12. Self-tailing winches: a) are remotely controlled. b) should have only one turn of the line. c) should have the line wrapped in a counter-clockwise direction. d) have a pair of jaw-like plates at the top of the winch to ensure a good grip on the line.

13. A line stopper: a) is another name for a clam cleat. b) is another name for a stopper knot. c) enables one winch to successively trim several lines. d) permits trimming several lines simultaneously using one winch.

Sail