Depowering order!?

JuanCH

JuanCH

Member
Hi I would like to know if you follow any order when depowering the sail?
Do you go for the cunningham or vang first?
Thanks for the input!
 
From what I've read in a few books, it is cunningham.

If you really simplify the sail, it can be though of that the cunningham controls the upper third of the sail, the vang the middle third and the outhaul the lower third.

Using this idea it makes sense to pull the cunningham to open the upper leach and spill wind from the top of the sail as the top of the sail will produce the most torque and heel you more.
 
There are some variables to consider before going for one or the other.


Sea state (flat water, chop, swells, swells with chop etc):
Flat water I will depower with vang first.
Chop or swells, I will depower with cunningham first.

Wind velocity (big gusts or steady wind)
Big gusts - vang first
Steady - cunningham first

Tactical - do you need to hold a lane or power over someone
Hold a lane - cunningham
Power over - vang
 
Hi 49208,

interesting points!

Could you possibly ad a "because" to each decision
to make the list more illustrative.

Thanks.
 
Reasons below

49208 said:
There are some variables to consider before going for one or the other.


Sea state (flat water, chop, swells, swells with chop etc):
Flat water I will depower with vang first. BECAUSE - I'm not worried about steering or punching thru waves, using the vang really flattens the sail and makes the "steering groove" a little more sensitive, but the result can be a little more speed thru the water.
Chop or swells, I will depower with cunningham first. BECAUSE - The cunningham opens up the top of the leech, making the steering groove wider and more forgiving

Wind velocity (big gusts or steady wind)
Big gusts - vang first BECAUSE - Big velocity changes usually require a lot of sheeting out and then back in. Without more tension then two-blocked vang on, sheeting out makes the sail fuller as the mast straightens, adding power to the sail just when I don't want it to.
Steady - cunningham first BECAUSE - I'm not moving the mainsheet as much, so I can control how much power I need to bleed off with the cunningham - once I have maxed out cunningham while still sailing two blocked, then it's time to over-vang and flatten the sail more, and ease the mainsheet to bleed off power

Tactical - do you need to hold a lane or power over someone
Hold a lane - cunningham BECAUSE too much vang flattens the sail too much and puts you into foot mode very quickly - Cunningham is more forgiving, you may go a little slower fore and aft, put it's much easier to hold your lane.
Power over - vang BECAUSE you are usually easing mainsheet and at times close reaching - vang keep the sail flat when the mainsheet is eased which helps bleed of the power.
Click to expand...
 
MiLLz said:
49208, Do you ever adjust the outhaul mid race, or do you set it and forget it pre-countdown? Thanks!
Click to expand...

For me, upwind it's normally set it and leave it, UNLESS the sea conditions change drastically or velocity changes more then +/- 5 knots and the change looks like it will stay that way for more then a few minutes..
 
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