I was reading an old catboat sail manual last night and came across a term I can't get properly fixed in my non nautical brain. It sounds simple enough for even me, but I can't research enough to lock down what it means exactly.
"..trimming the sheet so the boom lies just over the quarter."
Maybe I'm looking for too precise a position? Any help picturing its meaning would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
In essence, it means don't oversheet the sail. Cat rigged boats don't sail as close to the wind as sloops, and pinching is ineffective. So it is best to ease off the sheet and sail for speed.
Pretty new to sailing myself, but unless I am mistaken, the boom of the really "old school" gaff-rigged catboat shown below is lying just over its (port) quarter (http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/gloss.htm#Q) (the sides of a boat aft of amidships).
(https://www.ladyben.com/media/com_mtree/images/listings/m/38336.jpg)
It means to sheet the main so that the boom is just over the Leeward aft corner of the boat. On a cat boat a little further out is better than a little further in. Never pinch a cat boat the sail is too square (low aspect) to produce much of a foil when pinched. And our hulls do not have high aspect undersides as well.
Tom L.
Quote from: Tom L. on March 09, 2017, 08:40:16 PM
It means to sheet the main so that the boom is just over the Leeward aft corner of the boat. On a cat boat a little further out is better than a little further in. Never pinch a cat boat the sail is too square (low aspect) to produce much of a foil when pinched. And our hulls do not have high aspect undersides as well.
Tom L.
Thanks...I think that clears it up for me. I appreciate you response.