Clip on my genoa - what is it?

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CreakyDecks

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A few feet up the leech of my genoa there is a plastic clip. It seems to me to have no function other than to catch the lower shroud occasionally (not as occasionally as I would like) when I go from port to starboard tack. As you can imagine, single handed this is a bit annoying! It has about a foot of braided nylon line attached to it whose function is also a mystery. Does anyone know what this clip might really be there for?
 
For tensioning the leech of the sail. You should be able to pull the tensioner line tight and then hold it tight in the clip. Stops the upper half of the leech from flapping.

Bringing the genoa car forward (if you have one) should achieve the same and more.
 
Angele said:
...Bringing the genoa car forward (if you have one) should achieve the same and more.
Click to expand...
But with the difference that on a sail whose leech has stretched with time, moving the fairlead forwards far enough to stop the leech from "motorboating" is likely to introduce so much belly into the sail that you can't point.

Better (IMHO) to set the genoa fairlead in the "right" place, using whatever method you prefer (eg getting all the tell-tales to "break" at the same time) with the leechline slack, then tighten the leechline just enough to stop the leech from flapping.
 
Wow, that was quick!
So basically it is something that is beyond me at the moment but it might have a purpose when I know how to sail? In that case I won't do anything drastic to it!
Thanks.
 
CreakyDecks said:
Wow, that was quick!
So basically it is something that is beyond me at the moment but it might have a purpose when I know how to sail? In that case I won't do anything drastic to it!
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Just pull it a bit tighter if the top of the leech is fluttering when close hauled or beating to windward.;)
 
timbartlett said:
But with the difference that on a sail whose leech has stretched with time, moving the fairlead forwards far enough to stop the leech from "motorboating" is likely to introduce so much belly into the sail that you can't point.
Click to expand...

I thought motorboating was something entirely different!! :D
 
Remember the vibration from the tiller?
This is a similar effect that occurs when the leech of the sail is too tensioned and the trailing edge of the sail becomes 'hooked' preventing a clean breakaway of the air passing across the inner (low pressure )surface of the sail. Lesser tension will help produce the proper wing or airfoil shape conducive to efficient performance.


ianat182
 
Angele said:
Oh, bless you Searush, but it has a more modern meaning too. Check out "urban dictionary".;)
Click to expand...
Not at all convinced about that!

But it does remind me of when Motor Boat and Yachting got its first computers with a spell-check function.
Our "house style" was that "motor boating" should be spelled as one word -- "motorboating".
But the spell checker didn't like that at all, and suggested several possible alternatives.
One of them was "masturbating" :D
 
Motor boating

1) Sticking one's face between a lady's boobies and blowing hard allowing the boobies to wobble on one's cheeks. :)

2) Unintentionally farting while walking. A short, but loud fart comes out with each step. So it sounds like a motor boat engine grumbling as you walk. :D

3) When a dog or cat sits and drags its rear end with its front legs to either scrape off feces or relieve their impacted anal glands. :eek:
 
timbartlett said:
Not at all convinced about that!

But it does remind me of when Motor Boat and Yachting got its first computers with a spell-check function.
Our "house style" was that "motor boating" should be spelled as one word -- "motorboating".
But the spell checker didn't like that at all, and suggested several possible alternatives.
One of them was "masturbating" :D
Click to expand...
Seems entirely appropriate.
 
ianat182 said:
Remember the vibration from the tiller?
This is a similar effect that occurs when the leech of the sail is too tensioned and the trailing edge of the sail becomes 'hooked' preventing a clean breakaway of the air passing across the inner (low pressure )surface of the sail. Lesser tension will help produce the proper wing or airfoil shape conducive to efficient performance.
ianat182
Click to expand...

I think this going to be one of those things I worry about at a later date! I am still too busy wondering whether the boat is going to fall over to start climbing out of the cockpit to fiddle with the fine trim of the genoa :D
 
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