Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Agree with all that. Of course where you like your boom to sit in harbour affects whether you have to adjust the topping lift, but a trivial point. At no time should the topping lift be under tension when sailing, and leech lines, if it’s 100% necessary to tension it, then the sail is on the way out. They may stop the flapping, but it ruins the sail shape.Leech line. Think about it ... leech of a sail is not a straight edge. It has a slight curve / form to it. When you tighten leech line - you force the leech to lose its form and hook to be straight.
Leech line IMHO should be adjusted to not have slack line, locked and left alone - so sail can set properly.
Topping lift - I like mine set so boom is supported when sail is down, when sail up - just enough slack so sail / sheet / kicker control boom and TL is not catching sail or backstay. I never have to adjust it.