Sail Tell Tails. Use them because...

[Craig Weis]

Here the coolest thing I did was to go over to West Marine and buy two packs of green stick-on sail tell-tails and two packs of red stick-on sail tell-tails.

On both Com-Pac 19 head and main sails laid out on the grass I measured in from the leech the length of the tell-tail plus an inch. Four red on the port side and four green on the starboard side stuck on back to back on each side of the sail. Equally spaced top to bottom.

I did the same thing for the luff on both sails.

I bought The New Book of Sail Trim, edited by Ken Textor and read the book.

These tell-tails show me when the sails are trimmed correctly, making power and when the top of the sails may be stalled or...??

It is amazing just a touch on the sheets and all tell-tails are straight back, are pressed upon the sail and all in line with each other.

And yes the Raymarine Bi-Data 40 instrument notches up in speed.

I guess that's what it is all about. skip.

[Paul]

Just remember, a stalled sail is still a "pretty" sail.  The telltales will definitely help ID needed adjustments.  That's one of the great things about sailing, you never stop learning.  Ain't it great?!

[Rick Klages]

I use them!

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