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Old 12-18-2010, 12:59 AM
Brion Toss Brion Toss is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,180
Default One more nice thing

Hi again,
I'll just forward a tidbit from the estimable Carol Hasse, World's Greates Sailmaker. Hasse says that trys'ls can also be great in very light winds. In those conditions, with any kind of sea, that main will want to slam around, wearing itself out but not being terribly effective at stabilizing the boat. But a trys'l, sheeted in hard is a great steadying sail. Save that main for when you have some wind.
Plus, by setting it in light airs, you get to practice, and to work out any kinks in non-horrendous conditions.
A practical note:
Trys'l sheet blocks typically take about twice the sheet load. Even if your trys'l is a dinky 100sq ft, and it is set in 60 knots, there could be close to 1.5 tons on that block, which by the way is probably pointing directly at the cockpit. So it pays to have really good blocks,a generous safety factor, and really good attachment points.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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