Any advice on how to apply the correct tension to sail battens

[Ianqv]

Dear All,

I wonder if anyone has any advice on how to apply the correct tension to sail battens? What should I look for and be doing?
It is a fully battened mainsail on a 37th Jeanneau.

Many thanks in advance

Cheers

Ian

 

[RJJ]

If it flips - just - when you gybe in light airs, it's exactly right.

If it flips too easily then you are forgoing a small amount of camber and therefore power in medium breeze. But you'll hardly notice for cruising purposes.

You probably don't want to be fiddling with it every time you go sailing so a setting that works in light airs is probably good.

 

[Steve The Seagull]

Battens should be tensioned so as to take the slack out of the pocket. They are there to hold the shape, not force it.

If there are vertical creases in your batten pocket, increase the tension. If there are horizontal creases above and below the pocket, decrease the tension.

 

[Ianqv]

Many thanks

Cheers

ian

 

[johnalison]

The sail will work reasonably well if you just tighten until you feel a little resistance plus a couple of turns, leaving adjustment for later.