Main sheet measurement
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:57 pmOur guide list the mainsheet length as 44 feet. Doesn't this seem a bit long or is my nightly merlot kicking in? Just wonderin.
Seems reasonable, but depends, of course, how you have rigged your sheet. Instead of going next door and measuring, I made a quick diagram to check whether 44ft could be reasonable.
With aft-boom sheeting I have a double length from the aft of the boom to the traveler, a single length to the middle of the boom, a single length to the block on the centerboard trunk and whatever I hold in my hand.
If the boom is at 90 degrees, the doubled set runs at 45° to the end of the boom 10ft away. Same angle, but half the distance for the part to the block. (2x10' + 5') = 25', times 1.4 to account for the 45° angle = 35'. Add 5' for along the boom and 4ft to hold in your hand = 44ft.