Gaff Rig 16 foot OPERA N0 4 tell tails

[Derek Nixon]

Just received a new sail for my clinker built Opera built 1947. Problem is leech tell tails disappear round leeward side of main sail. The Gaff/Yard is hauled up almost vertical to the mast and has a leech line.
Any help please

 

[debenriver]

Is the tack hauled down well – a standing lug needs quite a bit of luff tension to set well.

Cheers -- George

 

[dunedin]

Just received a new sail for my clinker built Opera built 1947. Problem is leech tell tails disappear round leeward side of main sail. The Gaff/Yard is hauled up almost vertical to the mast and has a leech line.
Any help please

The leech tell tale blowing back round the leeward side of the sail generally means the mainsheet is in too tight (or if only the top of the sail, the kicker on too tight).
The mainsheet setting rule applies - “If in doubt, let it out”.

 

[srm]

Experiment.
Your new sail will have a different, and hopefully more efficient, shape to the old one so mainsheet and peak halyard settings will be different to get the best performance. As said by @dunedin it sounds as if you are pulling everything too tight at the moment.

 

[Derek Nixon]

Many thanks for you replies and will give them a try next week.