MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Flapping Leach

3190 is a NSM 1 with a hog stepped alloy rig with mast ram. Last week in the strong winds at Bartley I was suffering from a flapping leach, I was duly given advice re use of the mast ram so set off today to try this. Again we had some fresh winds (slighty down on last week) and again I had the problem of a flapping leach, I tried all combinations of mast ram kicker outhaul and cunningham etc but could not get the leach to stop flapping. Lower down the main seemed very full put was not flapping anywhere until I pointed to high when the luff started to flutter until either the wind veered a bit ( the Redditch puddle is very very flukey) or I bore off. 
Can anyone offer advice as to what I am not doing quite right with my rig?


Posted: 23/09/2007 16:26:32
By: Martin 3190
A fluttering leech usually means it's time for a newer sail i'm afraid. All sails stretch down the leech and the fluttering between the battens means that the cloth can no longer support itself properly.


Posted: 23/09/2007 21:36:14
By: Chris M
D'you'no I said as much to my crew whilst we were sailing, the sail still has some snap in it but having read the the various rigging guides and mast rigging guide I don't know haow many times I still can not get shape in it when there is a blow on.
Light winds and the shape is fine, heavy gusts and it all goes pear shaped.
Would to much shroud tension cause this?
The fact that the sail is very full even with loads of outhaul and kicker makes me wonder if it is time to see Mr BATT.
Just for info the current sails were measured in 1991 !!!


Posted: 23/09/2007 22:08:05
By: 3190
Just re read the previous post a lot (not all) of the saggy leach is a bove the top batten.
I am happy with the batten tension as it taks most times just backing occaisonaly in the lighter winds.


Posted: 23/09/2007 22:09:58
By: 3190
I'm still inclined to say its a stretch issue, especially as the sails are 16 years old.

Brian Cobb has not long posted a set of Hydes at a good price that should suit your rig. They are also 1991 vintage i think, but may not have been used as much as yours so may be worth a look first.


Posted: 24/09/2007 07:17:17
By: Chris M
It does sound like you may be using too much strut. This won't stop the flutter but less strut and loads of kicker should sort out any excess fullnes, and wanging on the cunningham should drag out any then is left.

If when you look at the sail as your going to windward the fullest bit is at the the back of the sail you need to pull the fullness forward and the tool for that is the cunningham.


Posted: 24/09/2007 07:22:53
By: Chris M
I agree that the loose leach is probably a symptom of old age. As the original owner of the boat I know how it feels. The sails were used on the meeting circuit and at the champs for the first 3 or 4 years of their life


Posted: 24/09/2007 11:22:32
By: Tony Lane
Thanks for the replies.
Regarding the strut at Bartley I was not using any!! and had loads of kicker, cunningham and outhaul on.
Yesterday I was using the strut and the problem was not as bad as at Bartley (the wind was slightly less also)
Tony the sails are a set of Rowsells measured in 1991 although the original certificate says 1992 measured by B Jennings.
So it looks like these are the same sails that were used for 3-4 years on the circuit.
I am guessing that the stronger the wind the more a stretch problem would show up.


Posted: 24/09/2007 17:28:48
By: 3190
The stronger the wind the more the flutter.


Posted: 24/09/2007 20:00:18
By: Chris M

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