Most of it I've found or worked out. Reading an RYA Laser Handbook and it often talks about block to block. I have not been able to find a definition or glossary term for this anywhere. Thought I'd figured it out as the line in question being tightened until two blocks were block to block with little to no line between them ie mainsheet/kicker. Then I came across the term "more than block to block" which isn't possible with my thought process. Help.
New and struggling with all the jargon
- Thread starter biju
- Start date
inlandfreddy
Member
Also being a newbie here, and with the laser this one I can try to help with. More than block to block refers to an extremly tight kicker setting for going upwind in hard wind. The kicker is set so tight that the vertical force are taken away from a "two block" or block to block sheeted main sheet. The boom is lower than the mainsheet can take it, hence the "more than".
You didn't ask for this but let's see if I got it right:
This setting allows you to release main sheet without that the boom rises, so you can let out the sail without that it becomes fuller or deeper. This is important when you want to reduce the sideway pressure from the sail when being owerpowered and at the same time keep the drag from the sail to a minimum.
You didn't ask for this but let's see if I got it right:
This setting allows you to release main sheet without that the boom rises, so you can let out the sail without that it becomes fuller or deeper. This is important when you want to reduce the sideway pressure from the sail when being owerpowered and at the same time keep the drag from the sail to a minimum.
CaptainAhab
Active Member
Block distance is the easiest way to describe main sheet tension on a Laser. Block to block is the typical upwind setting for maximum pointing. In light winds you might have 6" of sheet between them. In no wind conditions you would want to see about 10-12" of sheet showing between the blocks. Three basic settings for upwind work.
inlandfreddy is referring to vang sheeting. If you were sailing in 15 knots you would still set up for block to block. Snug up the vang so that when a puff or gust hits you can ease the main out a foot or more. The boom will swing out in a horizontal direction. After the wind velocity drops you can quickly resheet to block to block.
inlandfreddy is referring to vang sheeting. If you were sailing in 15 knots you would still set up for block to block. Snug up the vang so that when a puff or gust hits you can ease the main out a foot or more. The boom will swing out in a horizontal direction. After the wind velocity drops you can quickly resheet to block to block.
Merrily
Administrator
Block to block refers to the aft boom block and top traveler block. Don't know how you get more than block to block with any blocks. Perhaps, as you suspect, it means to "super-vang." Sounds like a quick way to break a boom.
Just as a footnote the RYA Book talks about block to block and more than block to block when talking about the Kicker as well as the Mainsheet. As noted above it indicates when the Mainsheet is eased the boom doesn't rise - although I can't see the kicker literally being block to block without a two piece boom.
laserxd
Member
"Block to block" is when the mainsheet is sheeted in all the way and the traveler and boom blocks are touching, this is the maximum power setting for medium air, the vang can also be set to "block to block" so that when you ease the sheet the boom won't rise, or rises just slightly
"More than block to block" is when the vang is cranked on very tight, forcing the boom into the mast and depowering the sail and making sheeting easier in heavy wind, this setting is for heavy air or when you're overpowered, it's used in conjunction with the Cunningham, the Cunningham will pull the draft forward and further help to depower the sail, using a great deal of vang alone will cause the draft to move aft so it's important to adjust both for the conditions.
Here's some more info:
http://laserxd.com/sailing-tips.php
http://laserxd.com/quick-guide-laser-sailboat-settings-full-rig.php
"More than block to block" is when the vang is cranked on very tight, forcing the boom into the mast and depowering the sail and making sheeting easier in heavy wind, this setting is for heavy air or when you're overpowered, it's used in conjunction with the Cunningham, the Cunningham will pull the draft forward and further help to depower the sail, using a great deal of vang alone will cause the draft to move aft so it's important to adjust both for the conditions.
Here's some more info:
http://laserxd.com/sailing-tips.php
http://laserxd.com/quick-guide-laser-sailboat-settings-full-rig.php
Voodoo 158546
Hard hiking at the end of a 3hr race, killer
No- one has mentioned the traveller setting through all this ...
Also, food for thought when you are 'super vanging' or as we Brits say ' banging on loads of kicker' ....the mast foot - although out of sight, keep it mind.
The pressure it's under in the tube is fivefold with the new style kickers, the tubes have not changed though. It rides up and forward within the tube.
I saw a painter get washed into the tube and as the boat went round the top mark and bore off, we heard a nasty cracking / grinding. Looking later we found three bomb holes with a mild crack joining them up... Kicker on very hard and melted painter tip done damage.
Also, food for thought when you are 'super vanging' or as we Brits say ' banging on loads of kicker' ....the mast foot - although out of sight, keep it mind.
The pressure it's under in the tube is fivefold with the new style kickers, the tubes have not changed though. It rides up and forward within the tube.
I saw a painter get washed into the tube and as the boat went round the top mark and bore off, we heard a nasty cracking / grinding. Looking later we found three bomb holes with a mild crack joining them up... Kicker on very hard and melted painter tip done damage.
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Emilio Castelli
Active Member
Vang tension does not chenge the pressure inside the mast tube if this is what you mean.
E
Voodoo 158546
Hard hiking at the end of a 3hr race, killer
The ten to twelve inch area - from mast foot upwards - contacts the front of the tube and the base plug slides aft during normal sailing, with stronger wind we pull on tighter and it follows there's increased pressure (laterally) at those contact points, no ?
Last edited by a moderator:
Emilio Castelli
Active Member
Upwind base plug slides forward but it has nothing to do with vang tension.
Put your vang on as tight as you want; you'll still be able to pull the mast out of the mast hole just as if there was no vang on.
Wind, cunningham (compression) and mainsheet do all the loading (hiking couneracts).
E
Voodoo 158546
Hard hiking at the end of a 3hr race, killer
Yes of course, sorry I wasn't clear earlier.
At the times we need loads of kicker we are usually experiencing a lot of wind and we pull everything on tight.
The xd controls are not only smoother and more accessible but more powerful no ?
Its these times to think about overdoing it - pulling things on too tight
At the times we need loads of kicker we are usually experiencing a lot of wind and we pull everything on tight.
The xd controls are not only smoother and more accessible but more powerful no ?
Its these times to think about overdoing it - pulling things on too tight
jeffers
Active Member
Block to block, as has already been mentioned, is when the boom end block touches the traveller block.
The caveat to that is that the traveller needs to be tight enough to keep the traveller blocks tight against the fairlead on the gunwhale. This is difficult with the Harken 1 piece traveller blocks as they tend to sneak inboard.
If you are struggling find the person (or people) who usually win the races where you are an ask them for a bit of coaching. Most people I know are only too happy to help with stuff like this. We regularly have in house coaching days where the guys at the front coach the guys further back. It improves the racing by raising the standard and is a good way to meet the people you usually race against.
The caveat to that is that the traveller needs to be tight enough to keep the traveller blocks tight against the fairlead on the gunwhale. This is difficult with the Harken 1 piece traveller blocks as they tend to sneak inboard.
If you are struggling find the person (or people) who usually win the races where you are an ask them for a bit of coaching. Most people I know are only too happy to help with stuff like this. We regularly have in house coaching days where the guys at the front coach the guys further back. It improves the racing by raising the standard and is a good way to meet the people you usually race against.