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Four Steps To Better Mainsail Shape
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Before looking at the sails themselves, turn your attention to rig tuning first.
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In order for sails to set properly, the rig needs to be set up correctly.
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The consequences of a slack rig go beyond the shrouds slamming in to the mast in stiff breezes. It could mean the mast is unstable with dire consequences whilst at sea. No bodywants an inverted mast!
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The following slides with diagrams have been designed to easily visualize the key points to takeaway.
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Naturally sail shape is not the kind of topic that is open and shut. There is considerable debatethis article covers the basics, to remind or to assist in learning.
 
 
Step One – Getting The Rig Tuned
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Common errors that help immediately are checkingthat the rig has equal strain running through bothsides.
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By following the diagram you can gain useful tips onestablishing from athwartships whether the rig is lopesided.
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If the rig is not set correctly then your main will not doso either.
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Remember the shrouds and lower shrouds are tosupport the mast and the backstay is for raking or bending it.
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After checking by sight, then use a tension gauge tocheck the distribution.
 
 
Step Two – Getting The Mast Central
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Having tensioned the shrouds you can use the lower shrouds to centralize the mast.
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Depending on the adjustments required, it is normallythe case that by easing on lower shroud andtightening the other by the same amount does the job.
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If you are using hand hand tools don't be worriedabout over tightening or damaging the rig.
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If your rigging is new, you will need to tightening therigging as a matter of course. New rigging doesstretch. So this should be done frequently until the rigsettles.
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