Best angle for lazyjacks?

[Ian McColgin]

I combine quarter lifts with lazy jacks - called locally LazyIans but more properly LazyLifts.

In general, think of the boom divided in quarters and label the stations clew, 1, 2, 3, tack.

A continuous line passes under the boom at 1 (fairleads help), up on each side through blocks under the spreaders or cheek blocks on the mast, and down about half way, each ending in a thimbled eye. A second line goes up from under the boom at 2 (again the fairleads), through the respective eyes and down to cleats at each side of the boom at 3.

This arrangement provides maximum lifting power on the boom at 1. If you set it for just a little boom droop when the sail is down, then the slack created when the sail's lifted will be enough that the leeside lifts will push out with the sail and the weatherside tighten. Tack by tack.

When you reef, just tighten whichever side is easier to reach to peak up the boom, incidentally firming up the jacks which helps contain the bunt of the sail while you tighten the reefing tack and clew.

G'luck