Main Sheet Bridle Height/Adjustment

[davidreich]

Starting a new discussion here and hoping you might chime in on the adjusting of the mainsheet bridle for varying conditions, affect on main leech and headstay, etc. It would be good too if other have experience with this from other classes that use double mainsheet bridles like the 49er, etc. Thanks.

[jjones]

I'll be keen to hear other views but in mine you don't need to modify the mainsheet on the vx like you do say - the viper.

Having the checks help control head stay tension independent of the mainsheet.   This allows you to drop the mainsheet off in breeze.   On the viper we adjusted our split tail mainsheet bridal so that the main could be pulled hard without completely centering the boom.   Not necessary on the VX I think?.   

I set my mainsheet bridal so the split tails pull into the aft block pretty early which helps center the boom without closing the leech.     Without the checks I'd lower it in heavy air so the split tails barely pulled into the block @ max sheet - that would let the boom drop a lot with just a slight ease of mainsheet tension.

I do, however abuse my GNAV to the point I worry about breaking something - when the breeze is on.

We always seem to sail light - combined 330ish?  and have been pretty affective even in breeze, uphill. 

[davidreich]

Good stuff JJ. Let's keep chiming in on this.

[jjones]

Went sailing yesterday and thought about this a bit more.   I don't think the lower bridal is there for anything but purchase so assuming it's low enough that that the block is separate from the boom when fully sheeted - leave it?

My upper bridal was tied a bit low.   When I was full on with the sheet the split tail was still outside the aft block so to get the near center I had to crank on the main really hard - which closes the leech a lot.   I eased the bridal until the split was pulled just inside the block and that helped center the main without mass leech tension - better for light air.

It was pretty windy and noticed I never sheeted within 4" of that split.