Multiple issues
Hi all,
There is a series of things going on here, that want untangling. In no particular order:
• The spare main halyard makes a great topping lift, until you need to use it as a main halyard, at which point you have no topping lift. So for those without a rigid vang, a pendant-and-purchase setup is most important. For those with a rigid vang, the spare main make a great redundant lift. Then, when you do sky the primary main halyard, you still have the vang as a lift. It's unlikely that both main halyard and vang would break at the same time, and if they do, you probably have bigger problems...
• It can be useful to keep the boom out of the water, but it makes no sense to raise the whole boom to do it. And in this case you must reef to raise the boom, so what would you do to keep the boom up in lighter airs? We sometimes see "tripping reefs" on mains'ls, on the leach, to top the boom end up when running, and this can be a valuable item. It is located not far above the boom, a foot or so, just enough to make a difference. But the tack stays where it is.
For the same reason, a properly-made sail will usually have the reef clews higher than the reef tacks, to get that boom end up. But the forward end, again, does not rise.
• Boomkicker has addressed the problem of the vang falling off the boom with an optional track setup. It's easy to install, and I recommend it. But in your case the problem is caused by the boom going upunnecessarily. This leads us to
• The reason why that track is there. As someone else suggested, it seems likely that your current sail is not properly made for this setup. What you have is a pre-Cunningham way to deal with luff tension, and it relies on having the boom somewhere near the top of the track when the sail is hoisted in light airs. Then, when you need to tension the luff, you take up on the downhaul. Works a charm, with the right sail. With yours, you cannot use the downhaul, except when reefed, right?
• Someone else mentioned tightening the main halyard as an adjunct to the downhaul. I can earnestly unrecommend this practice, as it has the unfortunate consequence of tightening the leach as well as the luff, and this is the last thing you want.
• The mains'l slide issue is a bear. Some boats will revert to a jackline in the bottom section, so the sail under the reef tack can get down to the boom. But this is an ugly way to do the job badly. If you can live with slides falling out when reefing, fine, but otherwise I suggest you
• Nail that boom to the mast. That is, pick a height you like for the boom, and drill and tap to secure the slide to the track. Throw away the downhaul and install a Cunningham. Simpler, easier, and considerably more effective at sail shape. Then cut off any of the heavy track that is above the slide (carefully), and extend the lighter track down to the slide. Simpler reefing, lower c of e, no jacklines, better sail shape. Ahh.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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