Do you slacked off the Furlly worlly halliard

[sailorman]

after sailing for the day
or do you prefer to stretch the luff

 

[Norman_E]

No, because tensioning it is very hard. It is done at the mast, but the winch is awkwardly placed. The result is that I only slacken it a bit when leaving the boat, and I forgot last time I left it. Mea Culpa!.

 

[forelle541]

+1

 

[Georgio]

When I remember to do so I always slacken the furling genoa halyard to take the pressure of the luff. Likewise I also reduce the tension in the backstay, no point in leaving the rig bar-tight when not in use.

Perhaps I'm too kind to my boat.

 

[Poignard]

No.

I suppose I should but I have an old Rotostay with the halyard fall secured to the drum in front of the foil and tensioned by a lanyard. Fiddling around with that is too much trouble. I do slacken the backstay tensioner so that probably achieves the same result.

 

[temptress]

When I remember to do so I always slacken the furling genoa halyard to take the pressure of the luff. Likewise I also reduce the tension in the backstay, no point in leaving the rig bar-tight when not in use.

Perhaps I'm too kind to my boat.

+ 1 when I remember - this post has reminded me to go on deck in the rain and do it....

 

[Kelpie]

Hmmm, I don't actually put much tension on the genoa halyard anyway. My furler is on its last legs and it seems to be worse then the halyard is too tight. I don;t really see the need for massive halyard tension when the forestay itself is nice and straight.

I always slacken off the backstay (OK, I've been known to forget from time to time) because my type of boat has a history of mast compression issues so it seems like the right thing to do...

 

[jerrytug]

It's a good question. I keep all the standing bar tight because according to my rigging book there is LESS stress on everything if it is preloaded and can't flack about or vibrate in the breeze.
The plastimo furling genny halliard is set at the tension which allows it to spin in and out most freely,either too tight or too slack increases the chance of a nightmare snarled-up wrap at the top swivel.
Avoiding wraps and easy furling is a far higher priority than fannying about for theoretically ideal luff tension.

 

[TQA]

Hmmm think it got slackened once in the last four years.

When I had to have sacrificial strip resown in Antigua.

Is not slackening it a bad thing?

 

[CreakyDecks]

You could argue that any tension you leave on the halyard is tension you are taking off the forestay and forestay tension is important for preventing fatigue failure of swaged connections.

 

[johnalison]

Easing the halyard is part of our furling routine & we usually do it before furling the sail, which in anything of a blow I try to do downwind with the pressure off the sail. It's all part of geriatric sailing.

 

[BAtoo]

Usually slacken the halyard a bit (not enough to get wrinkles).

Usually leave the backstay fairly tight - I prefer the tight rigging route.

 

[Cantata]

after sailing for the day
or do you prefer to stretch the luff

Certainly do, most especially since I acquired a nice dyneema halliard this year on which I can play tunes.
And I leave the halliard on the winch when I leave the boat, so I remember to tension it before going sailing again.
It's a bit iffy to slacken it before you furl the sail, though, as someone else said they do....can end up with halliard wrap surely?

 

[Daydream believer]

Different halliard tension is used when sailing to adjust the position of the draught of the sail
If you leave the sail in a state of stretch you will ruin the shape & you will not get the correct sailing shape
Of course if you have a knackered old rag anyway then i do not suppose you will make much difference

 

[sailorman]

Different halliard tension is used when sailing to adjust the position of the draught of the sail
If you leave the sail in a state of stretch you will ruin the shape & you will not get the correct sailing shape
Of course if you have a knackered old rag anyway then i do not suppose you will make much difference

that's why I asked

 

[Novachris]

I take my foresail off after a sail, it only takes about ten mins to drop it ,stow it and tiddly everything up before i go home, could be two weeks before i use the boat again..again takes about 10 mins to debag hoist and lightly tension...always done this.

 

[johnalison]

It's a bit iffy to slacken it before you furl the sail, though, as someone else said they do....can end up with halliard wrap surely?

I think a halyard wrap is more likely if you have too much tension and have to use a winch to furl. A case for a happy medium perhaps.

 

[Daydream believer]

that's why I asked

Do i detect a hint of iritation at my answer to your thread?
Did you want me to say no so you ould carry on as you seem to be?