Sheeting Angles

[roboandkate]

I'm looking for a good book explaining sail sizes, sheeting angles, sail twist etc.

Before I spend a load of money doing some modifications I want to understand enough to hold a sensible conversation with an 'expert'.

Any recommendations?

 

[Richard10002]

No expert but, if the tell tales at the bottom are flying, and those at the top are stalling, the car needs to go forwards, and vice versa.

presumably, if you want to point higher, (but with less power), the car tracks could be moved inboard, and vice versa.

I'm sure you want something more technical <g>

 

[Lakesailor]

Steve Goacher, who makes championship winning sails told me that the sheets should point to a spot on the forestay 40% up from the foot to the head.
So you adjust the car until that happens.

I hope I remembered it right.

 

[Marmalade]

High Performance Sailing - I think by Frank Bethwaite - technical sailor's bible - tells you way more than you'd ever need to know

Simon

 

[machurley22]

Looking at Sails by Bruce Banks & Dick Kenny and/or Sails for cruising Trim to Perfection by Mark Chisnell. The latter is "supported by" Hyde Sails but no less informative for that.

 

[VicS]

I cannot recommend a book but you might find some useful basic info Here

PBO have run some good articles in the past. They must just about be ready for a re-run.

 

[gandy]

There's a short article here :

http://www.kempsails.com/sitedata/PDF_Forms_for_Download/Kemp-Trimming-Mains---Headsails.pdf

 

[PatrickB02]

Yep, I'll second the vote for Sails for cruising Trim to Perfection by Mark Chisnell.

 

[charles_reed]

If you want the standard

reference book get C A Marchaj's "Sailing Theory & Practice" out of the library - he devotes a whole chapter to sheeting angles and , most importantly, gives the theory and principles behind that. ISBN 0 229 64253 5.

Alternatives are "The Best of Sail Trim", collection of articles from a number of sailing journalists and one or two who actually trim sails for a living. ISBN 0 229 11843 7

Or, on a more chatty note Jeremy Howard-Wiliams "Sails". ISBN 0 229 11824 0.

In fact sheeting angles for foresails are dependent on so many factors rig (masthead/fractional), overlap (solent or % genoa), construction (horizontal or mitre woven/ laminate), but is generally in the area of 60-35 degrees.

 

[Inselaffe]

I found:

Sail and Rig Tuning by Ivar Dedekam (Paperback - 28 Mar 2000)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sail-Rig-Tuning-...2459&sr=8-2
(very good pictoral descriptions, but not dumbed down)
and

Sails for Cruising: Trim to Perfection by Mark Chisnell (Paperback - 24 April 2003)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sails-Cruising-P...2459&sr=8-4
(as per other voters)

Both to be very good, at a tenner each more or less very good value

 

[roboandkate]

Thanks everyone, more than enough to keep me going for some time.