Reefing Sails and a Boom Vang

Reefing Sails and a Boom Vang

A boom vang can help when the wind elevates and you need to to put a reef in the sail.(check link on reefing) You can use the vang with the mainsheet and traveler to get a mainsail leech shape that will spill air from the sail and this can improve the boat handling. 

By tensioning the vang a little bit, it will remove slack. Set the mainsheet on the track to where you need it and then slack the mainsheet so that the leech (sail side away from mast) gets a twist in it about ½ way up the sail. This will let air dump from the sail. This will help keep the boat better balanced.

What a boom vang does is help trim the main sail. The mainsheet line and the boom vang holds down the end of the boom. When the boom is near the centerline of the boat or near the edge of the boat the mainsheet can hold the boom down by itself and you can get a nice shape to the sail with just the main sheet line, But when the boom goes out past the boat side over the water the main sheet line cannot hold the end of the boom down. A boom vang holds the boom down in this position and it lightens the load you have and tension on the main sheet line. It also lets the sail shape stay better.

When running with the wind, jibing is more likely. A flying jibe can break equipment and take your head off.  By attaching the lower end of the vang to a solid eye pad on the deck or boat rail, the vang can ne rigged as a jibe preventer.

A boom break is also a great way prevent or reduce the force of a jibe.