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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boom Vang and a loose footed main

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/22/2007 : 08:13:59

Greetings everyone,
I bought a Chrysler Pirateer to screw around with and while I was rigging it in the yard yesterday, I found I have a loose footed main and a boom vang. I'm wondering what the purpose is for the vang with a loose footed main? I understand how the vang works but I don't see how it works with the loose footed.
Dan

1977 SK/SR Dinette Hull #29
1979 ChrisCraft 251
1965 Chris Craft Cutalss

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2007 : 09:00:12

Hi Dan,
The loose footed main and boomvang don't necessarily relate directly. Having the main loosefooted will help you change sail shape more easily by using the clew outhaul and outhaul adjustment line. The boomvang helps keep tension on the mainsail's leach when you are sailing on reaches and runs by keeping the boom horizontal.

So, if I was sailing the Privateer, I'd not worry about the vang for upwind sailing and pull the clew out until the foot of the sail was touching the boom all along it's edge. For reaching, I'd make sure that the vang had enough tension to keep the boom horizontal and progressively let the clew move forward as the boat fell off the wind deeper and deeper.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2007 : 09:46:51

Another way to think of it is how the sail "bends" around two axes... The outhaul on the loose-footed sail does a good job of bending the sail around a vertical axis, while the vang controls its bend around a not-quite-horizontal axis (angling upward from the tack, or gooseneck). In my mind, you want the latter to be pretty much minimal on all points of sail, especially if you can control the former as you can with a loose foot, as Bill describes. The bend around the horizontal axis tends to direct air upward, while the bend around the vertical axis directs it aft, for better lift (if that's the right term). That's why I'm a fan of loose feet...

The vang is most important off the wind, when the mainsheet can't do much to hold the boom down due to its angle. The loose foot allows you to achieve a full shape with the boom held down--something bolt-rope-footers can't really do very well--and minimizes "twist" (which dumps air at the top).

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.