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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

IF have vang and topping lift, traveler needed?

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/28/2008 : 18:21:11

Hello Folks,

A sailor buddy mentioned that a traveler is not needed if one uses a boom vang and a topping lift to hold the shape of the mast. By doing so, only the main sheets is required to move the angle of the sail.

I have been using the traveler to adjust the angle of the main sail on occasion. I do have a topping lift and vang.

Can anyone concur with the first sentence to this thread?

Thanks,
Deric

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2008 : 18:46:13

I'd say your buddy is wrong.
The traveler is used when you want to induce or remove twist in the main sail. When you use the mainsheet to lengthen or shorten the leech, the traveler can counteract the effect on the leech.

Unless he's been on a C25 and seen how ineffective our travelers are.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2008 : 19:14:55

Thanks, Mike.

I'll keep researching on sail shape and trim. I had meant to say shape of the main: not mast, in my post above - - you understood my intent. We do sail on a Cat 25 and there isn't much of a range in the traveler for movement.

My thought was to create the shape of the sail and move the mail with traveler to make slight adjustments in the angle. The topping lift. in my mind, was there to hold the boom up. My buddy believes that the opposing forces caused by the vang and the topping lift would hold the shape of the sail. Still learning so we share alot of ideas.

Thanks,
Deric

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2008 : 20:24:33

Take a look in Sailing USA's website. www.sailingusa.com under traveler or sail shape.

Edited by - stampeder on 07/28/2008 20:26:05

Breezy Cat
1st Mate

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38 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2008 : 21:08:27

Tell your buddy he's right then smoke him in the club races.
The topping lift has nothing to do with trim.
The vang is a whole story in and of itself.
Set the main for the conditions then play the traveler as the gusts come and go. Down in the puffs back to neutral as the wind evens out. The main remains trimmed after each adjustment. Try to feel when to ease with the tiller. Too much helm means go down on traveler as the tiller gets back in control pull the boom back up. You could be working the traveler the entire up wind leg without ever locking it in.
You're easing the boom and spilling air with the traveler without changing the sail shape.
Many bigger boats have a trimmer just working the traveler or the mainsheet trimmer will work the traveler much more than trying to reshape the main.
BTW- We are talking about going up wind. Down wind is another discussion.

Edited by - Breezy Cat on 07/28/2008 21:16:16

brrit
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 06:39:35

Breezy Cat - This makes a lot sense to me. Never really thought of heading upwind under this strategy, but I'll be giving this a go next time I'm on the boat.

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Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 09:51:50

Tell your buddy to look up what the top sailors are doing. There will always be different methods to try to get the best sail trim, but there is no contesting the validity of results. Your vang may not be as effective as many other designs out there, but it is still a valuable tool.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 10:12:41

You have interesting timing. I sailed this past weekend using my traveler more than I ever have in the past. I have heard and have commented on the traveler on a C25 but must say that it does have some effect on the leech. As noted, it allows you to make changes on the leech without having to adjust the main sheet. I found that my traveler is good in winds under 20knots.
I would consider my sailing ability to be intermediate...one of my strategies in learing how to sail my boat is to concentrate on one aspect at a time. My traveler has been locked into neutral for most of the past 4 seasons but this season I'm giving it a workout. The other thing I've been working a lot on this year is jib sheet car position. I can read all day about these things but don't really sink in until I get my hands on and test all the variations.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
843 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 16:43:01

Deric,

The quickest way to screw up your sail shape is use the topping lift.

The traveler and boom vang work together.
Like Breezy Cat said, in a puff move the traveler to leeward then back to neutral.

If you are in stronger wind (but not strong enough to reef) you can twist the main.
Loosen the boom vang then move the traveler to windward.
This will spill air off the top of the main (to leeward) while keeping the foot of the main to windward.
This will keep the center of the main on your original heading.

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2008 : 17:57:24

Hi Folks,

I appreciate all the comments. Last year, I was on a Cat 30 and when we sailed up wind, I noticed an increase in speed when I moved the traveler toward center and slightly above center.

In thinking about the main sheet and traveler, it seems to me that the main sheet would have a downward pull on the end of the boom whereas the traveler has no downward pull, but rather causes lateral movement of the boom.

I'll keep reading, and sailing to test out the effects of the traveler, vang, and mainsheet.

Excellent thoughtful comments from the community. I suspect there are many folks learning much.

I have been reading much lately these past two days on sail shape and trim. Good Stuff.

Deric

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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.