We have our jib fairleads on our Winder three holes from the back; the jib sheet bisects the luff about 1/3 up, in I thought, the approved fashion, We never touch them and let the raking deal with the opening of the leach when windy.

However, I have heard it said that boat goes better with the jib fairleads well forward and the jib luff, full. Is this true?

While we are not afraid of experimentation, are there any pointers out there which might short-circuit this?


All intelligence gratefully received.

Cheers

Graham and Fiona 

MR 3698

I always position so that leech of jib gives a uniform slot between itself and the mainsail.

Does anyone opt for a window in the main to see the upper jib luff, with a tell tale on the jib leech?

Thanks Miles - certainly we aim for the same. 

The theory  cropped up in discussion at the weekend that jib fairleads to the front of the track was quick;  I was left wondering. 

We decided  you would have to careful not to shut the leech with much sheet tension. 

Guess we will have to try it. If you hear no more, it was fast. 

Cheers.

Gareth

Not used such a window in the main but my crew likes to have a window towards top of the jib so that he can see the spinnaker luff when crouched down to leeward in light winds and what keeps the crew happy ........!

Interesting Rich, good idea too.

I know a lot of 505s and I think a number of 470 sailors do the mainsail one.

The jib leach doesn't overlap the main so you don't really need a window.

Hi Graham, I usually start by checking that all the tell-tales lift at the same time. Need to do this in a steady wind in flat water. I then set the sheeting so the very top tell-tale lifts slightly before the rest with normal sheet tension. Slot is important too and the leech should follow the main in terms of twist. Remember to much leech tension will restrict the slot too little will inhibit pointing (as with the main).

I'm sure one of sailmakers will be able to do a better reply than I can!

Cheers, Dave

Hi Graham - I suspect you may be reflecting some comments I made to John McClaren down in Salcombe...

Best advice is to see how the top boats using your sailmaker's cut of jib are setting up.

I had set up my North jib following basic principles of jib luff intersection and tell tails all flowing.  This placed my jib car mid track. I then looked at how Dave Hayes and Richard Whitworth's boats were set up and found they were 3-4 holes further forward.  Having made this change, we sheeted the jib a little less hard, creating a fuller shape but keeping the original leech profile.  The result was a bit more height upwind and more power out of the tacks - all over a definite improvement across the wind range.

cheers
Tim

Quick question regarding forming the same shape leech on the main and jib...!

How do you guys do this?

Do you set up the boat before on the dock and record settings or send a crew member to leeward?

What is the preferred method?

Dry land method, boat on side, sails up and use gravity as the wind.
Else on the water get crew to take helm whilst you check.

Thanks all and in particular Tim F. (Btw: Philip Henson sends his regards). 

Quite right; this has arisen out of your conversation with John Mclaren, who is now sadly late of the Merlin class - he has sold his boat to A J Squire so all is not lost.  

We shall certainly try your suggestion and thanks for sharing it.


Cheers.  

Graham and Fiona

Miles,

Only slightly tongue in cheek comment following....Why don't you let your crew check the slot?

The sheet tension required to keep the slot right can vary minute by minute on a lighter day.

Don't you think you might go better if your crew knew what to check, and how to adjust??

GGG

Hi Graham

Long time no see. Very hard to find a crew around here who knows what to look at. Only expert I've had in the front of Wuthering Heights is the famous Mr Callaghan, and he automatically set things as he saw fit. 
Failing such expertise in the front, I have to swap places  or scoot over to leeward.

Miles

Is this problem not solved by having a window in the main, (as I questioned earlier) that means the helm can see the important top part of the leech of the Jib?