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Performance Genoa Trimming
Headstay and halyard
tensions
To get the most accurate performance from your headsails you
must make all adjustments in the proper order.
First you need to sheet in the headsail to its maximum trim
for the conditions. After trimming in the genoa you must set
the proper headstay tension. If the headstay is too loose or
tight you will not be able to adjust the halyard tension or
the leads correctly. Headstay tension is controlled by the backstay
on masthead rigs, the runners on modern fractional rigs, and
the shroud and backstay tension on fractional rigs with sweptback
spreaders.
Remember: if it is choppy or if the breeze is light you will
have to sail with a much looser sheet, headstay and halyard.
The headstay tension controls both the draft position and the
depth of the sail. A loose headstay will make the sail deeper
and more draft forward, therefore your halyard tension must
be looser or your draft will be too far forward. Conversely,
if you are sailing with a tight headstay, say in flat water
at the top of the sail's range, you will want a tight halyard.
The tight headstay will flatten the sail and move the draft
aft slightly but a tight halyard will move the draft near its
designed position.
After you are comfortable with the headstay and halyard adjustments,
you must attend to your lead positions.
Page 4... Genoa lead positions
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