Main Sail Twist

by Dave Acree

In the Phoenix metro area it is not an uncommon sight to see tall sail rigs on model
sailboats. This is because of the light winds which are prevalent in this area and many
times you would see these high rigged yacht sail away leaving the rest of the short
rigged boats adrift. It is safe to say there is more wind aloft and tall sails capture it, so
it is within reason to say wind blows 60 percent at the top of sails.

This varying wind speed affects a sail angle, or twist from top to the bottom. This
twist can be shown in the apparent-wind diagram in the figure below. To explain this
simply, the wind twist the sail's leech from top to bottom. At any one time there can
be 3 to 5 degrees of twist in the apparent wind from the bottom of the mail to the top.
The result is the bottom of the main can be beating while the top is close reaching.

The skipper has several ways to control the twist of his mail sail, the gooseneck and
the backstay. When adjusting the main sail, not enough twist and the top will be
stalled relative to the foot, too much and the top will luff before the foot.

To adjust the main sail's twist, trim the main to where the bottom batten is parallel to
the main boom. Next, take the yacht out to an open area and set the boat on a stand at
an angle as if it was it was heeled over beating to windward. Use the backstay line as
a straight line of sight so you can measure twist. Next, sight the top of the main sail, it
should lie out 1 3/4 inches from the backstay line. You can now adjust the jib so that
it too follows the main sail's twist while keeping the slot between the two sails the
same all the way along the length.
Another guide to check the main sail's twist is to attach a telltale on the back of the
top batten. The telltale should flow aft at least haft to the time. If not, ease the main
sail by using the gooseneck.

In speed terms, by having more twist, or more leeward sag to the leech (remember
sighting by using the backstay line), gives the sail less power. Less twist, or less
leeward sag gives the sail more power. One note to remember, under heavy winds,
more twist to the main can be a boost. By applying twist will allow a main to "dump"
wind, which causes less heel, hence more speed. This works well until the wind calms
down and now the main is not catching enough wind, and the boat goes slower.

To understand this more, take you boat out and experiment. Only by doing will sail
twist become understood.
Good sailing!
©2003 Dave Acree

Sail shape when sailing on a

reach
The Mainsail (pronounced "main-sul"): For
maximum efficiency a sail should have a curve, or
draft. The larger the draft or curvature of the sail
usually creates a more powerful sail. In moderate
wind conditions, the draft should be approximately
45% of the way back from the luff (front edge of
the sail), much like a wing of an airplane. In light
winds, the mainsail should be set for maximum
efficiency. The larger the draft or curvature of the
sail usually creates a more powerful sail.

However, in stronger winds it may be desirable to

flatten the mainsail. Flattening the curvature of the
sail will make it less aerodynamic and reduce the
"pull" on the leeward side of the sail. This can be
done by tightening the backstay (flattens the upper
2/3 of the sail), and by tightening the outhaul of the
mainsail (flattens the lower 1/3 of the sail).

Tightening the backstay will bend the top of the

mast backward and the mid-portion of the mast
forward. This will flatten the upper two thirds of
the mainsail and depower the sail. However, this
also moves the draft or maximum curvature of the
sail aft (toward the stern). Setting the
Cunningham will tighten the sail's luff (front edge
of the sail) and move the draft forward and back to
its correct position approximately 45% of the way
back from the luff (front edge of the sail).
Picture of the Cunning
with a line (left-hand p
Non-set Cunningham (
hand picture).
 Tightening the outhaul
flatten the foot of the m
and depower the sail.
Loosening the outhaul
increase the draft of th
mainsail and power-up
sail. One must be care
to cup the sail with too
tension on the foot of t
having the outhaul to l

Tightening the boom v

reduce the twist of the
mainsail. Loosening th
vang will tend to twist
causing the superior po
the sail to be let out in relation to the lower portion. A
the boom vang will compensate for a change in sail sh
the mainsail is let out or eased. It can also be used to
compensate for an increase in wind speed and change
apparent wind direction which is present aloft (toward
of the mast). Twisting of a sail is a fine adjustment w
guided by the behavior of the telltales on the mainsail
(back edge of the sail). If the boom is over the water,
want to first trim the lower part of the mainsail by usi
mainsail's sheet , then loosen the boom vang until the
portion of the mainsail or telltales start to luff then tig
boom vang until the luffing stops and the telltales are
streaming backward.

Once the proper shape of the mainsail has been achiev

changes in the tension of the boom vang or the mains
sheet will change the shape of the sail. The mainsail's
not only determines the position of the boom in relatio
the deck but also places a downward pull on the leech
back edge) of the mainsail. If one lets the mainsail o
loosing it's sheet, decrease tension on the main's leech
occur, resulting in an undesirable twist of the sail. If
wishes to let out the mainsail with little change in sail
the "traveler" should be used. ( By also adjusting the
mainsail's sheet, the sail can be let out without any ch
shape ). The traveler is a track w
adjustable car to which the main
sheet is attached. By sliding the
car to port or starboard the posit
boom is changed without changi
length of the mainsail's sheet.

Many beginning sailors will only use