[C320-list] cunningham

[Robert E. Sloat]

My experience on cunningham use is similar to Scott Thompson's.

With a 4 year old 320 and sails of the same age, I use the halyard almost
all of the time to move draft depending on the point of sail and apparent
wind.  Occasionally, I use the cunningham when the wind pipes up and on a
close reach or higher.

My cunningham adjustment is done at the mast.  For me, sometimes it is
easier to work the cunningham rather than taking the main sheet off the
starboard secondary winch after jam cleating it, then winching the main
halyard to tighten the luff and redeploying the mainsheet to the winch.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Scott Thompson" <sthompson at toad.net>
To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>; "Steven Magennis"
<magenns at yahoo.com>
Cc: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: [C320-list] cunningham


> Actually the cunningham is for adjusting tension on the luff, not the
> leach.  On my boat the main halyard works just fine for this, and I
> can't imagine why it wouldn't, unless you have lots and lots of
> friction in your mainsail track, in which case you should work on that
> problem instead.  I don't understand or agree with the comment that the
> halyard "isn't effective on the bottom of the sail due to stretch."
>
> Historically the reason for having a cunningham (instead of just using
> the halyard) is related to racing rules.  Under racing rules the top
> and bottom of the sail must stay within marked bands on the mast.  For
> maximum power, you want a sail that comes all the way to the bands in
> both light and heavy wind conditions.  But if it comes to the bands in
> light wind conditions, with not much tension, then it will get pulled
> past the upper band if you tension the halyard when the wind picks up.
> The cunningham solves the dilemma by letting you pull down on the
> bottom of the luff rather than using the halyard to pull upwards.
>
> For a cruising boat there are only two reasons I can think of to use a
> cunningham, but both are legitimate in some circumstances:  (1) The
> sail or halyard are cut and/or rigged such that you can't get enough
> tension on the halyard without damaging something.  This could happen
> if your main has a long luff or if the splice on the halyard shackle is
> chafing on the sheave, for example.  (2)  The cunningham might be
> easier to use, depending on how things are rigged.
>
> By the way, the unusual name comes from the America's Cup skipper who
> invented it.
>
> ------------------
> T. Scott Thompson
> sthompson at toad.net
>
>
>
>
> Quoting Steven Magennis <magenns at yahoo.com>:
>
> > The cunningham is to adjust the tension on the leach (usually on teh
> > bottom 1/3), and move the draft forward.  The main halyard does this
> > too, but it isn't effective on the bottom of the sail due to stretch.
> >
> > Tightening the cunningham (and / or halyard) depowers the sail.
> >
> > Streve
> > Alchemist #909
> >
> > --- John Van Vessem <jvanvessem at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Denny,
> > >
> > > I might have missed some of the emails,  what is the purpose of
> > the
> > > cunningham other than to releave the tension on the boom?
> > >
> > > John (Sojourn 645)
> > >
> > > rote:
> > > Here's a pretty inexpensive Cunningham setup that's on the
> > website.
> > > You can
> > > also get West Marine to sell you a fairly inexpensive block and
> > > tackle with
> > > lightweight line that works fine.
> > >
> > > http://www.catalina320.com/website/cunningham.gif
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Denny Browne
> > > A Cappella #935
> > > Redondo Beach, CA
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
> > > [mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Koen
> > > Bennebroek
> > > Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 2:00 PM
> > > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> > > Subject: [C320-list] cunningham
> > >
> > > I was wondering if and how people are using a cunningham in their
> > > setup? I
> > > noticed on our boat that we have the cunningham cringle in the
> > sail,
> > > but
> > > there is no line with hook. We have a 1995 model with a double
> > reef
> > > main.
> > >
> > > Thanks, Koen
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> >
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