should I move mast or harness lines

gorgegeezer · Joined: 20 Mar 2001 Posts: 15

Over the years, I have left my mast base in about the same position, slightly aft of the middle. I have adjusted my harness lines for the various sail sizes. I have marked the spot that worked best for each size of sail. This has proven to be about 1per on the boom per 1/2 meter of sail. It finally dawned on me I probably should have left the harness lines in one place and moved the mast base. It was easier to move the harness lines. Anybody have info on this?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Our harness line placement is a function of the sails center of effort (COE), independent of mast base placement. The harness line attachments should straddle the COE so neither arm has to do any work except in a jibe.

THEN we place the mast base wherever works best on our board in the conditions present.

Mike \m/

spyder · Joined: 24 Sep 1996 Posts: 2790 Location: oahu

Mike \m/s answer is right on, just to add a bit extra to explain -

the COE is found by grabbing the boom with one hand and sheeting the sail in. When you find that spot on the boom that balances the rig, thats the COE. Place your harness lines around your fist at that point. Now you can hook in and the sail will be balanced.

With the placement of the mast base in the track, it depends on the size of sail, and the type of sailing; Slalom/B&J/Wave. In Slalom, you tend to rake the sail back, in B&J/Wave the sail is a more upright.

The best place to put the mast base, is to decide the stance when you are in the harness, then draw a line from the COE down to the foot of the sail (at that angle), and the distance from that point to the mast extension, will be placed on the board about midway between the front & back footstraps and the mast track setting. confusing?

all you are doing is putting the COE right smack in the middle of the footstraps when you are in a relaxed stance in the harness.

1aloop · Joined: 09 Jun 2000 Posts: 62

I would also add, that the center of effort in your sail will change with more or less downhaul or outhaul

jam-1 · Joined: 23 Mar 1999 Posts: 81 Location: Redwood City

I have also found that I have moved the mast back the smaller the sail is.