[FloridaBoy]

Hello All, Rookie sailor here. First I gotta say, that thread "I paid a dude and I liked it!", was fuuunny! I hear ya! New to sailing, got a 35 Morgan, sailing almost every day I have off, 3 times a week. Starting to get it, sometimes. Did pretty good yesterday. It's a lot of work keeping them sails adjusted in veering and backing winds gusting. But, It is fun! Anyways, I have 2 sets of telltales on jib, near the luff, one halfway up and one 3/4 of the way up, no others. They are hard to see from the cockpit, lots of straining and rubbernecking. The main has five flying off the leach and no others. I'd like to place some more. I have researched it on the net, just wanted to see what you guys have to say. A couple more on the leach of the jib? One on lower 1/4 of jib? Do I need any at all on the main other than the ones on the leech? Thanks, you guys are so helpful and knowledgeable. I sent an email to the local yacht club to get a crewing spot, by the way. Thanks again, Kevin

 

[FloridaBoy]

By the way, sailed about 20 miles yesterday, close reaching and close hauled, mostly. 5-7 knots, most of the time. It was cool! Kevin

 

[PaulinVictoria]

What you have already is sufficient, practice rubbernecking

 

[RichH]

Here you go, Index of /Publications/Arvel Gentry Articles

08_ "Checking Trim on the Wind" for tell tale placement

a sequence of articles that follow on tell tall usage:
09_Achieving_Proper_Balance.pdf
10_Sailing_to_Windward.pdf
11_Are_You_at_Optimum_Trim.pdf

For other articles written by Arvel Gentry: http://arvelgentry.jimdo.com/articles/

If you cant see the jib tell tales, that means you're sitting behind 'the wheel'. Sit to the side of the wheel to see tell tales. Sitting up on the cockpit coaming is best. ;-)

 

[aloof]

Ya, the tell tails that a helmsman watches are in the lower quarter of the headsail. The headsail trimmer moves the lead blocks so all the tell tails agree, or whatever is desired for the conditions. The main trimmer likes to have tell tails in the top quarter of the main to encourage him to put in enough twist, or induce some super turbo pointing by backing the top tail a bit.

 

[FloridaBoy]

All good info, Didn't realize so many guys watch the sails. It's only me on the boat, so I'll put some more telltales up. I am never behind the wheel. Always keep moving from rail to rail so's I can see what is going on, on the boat and around me. Very good info, thanks guys! Kevin

 

[RichH]

Take note in the Arvel Gentry articles of the placement of the 'steering tell tales' (aka: Gentry Tufts). Once you get the shape of the sails correct for the day's wind and waves, really all you have to do is watch that 'row' of steering tell tales ... and only occasionally watch all the 'rest' of the tales. Those articles by Mr. Gentry are what set the sailing world totally on its ear; almost all 'sailing books' since that time (~1975) use those 4 sequenced articles (listed above) as their primary source document.

 

[FloridaBoy]

Thank You, RichH. I printed them out today and have been reading and re-reading them. I'll let you know. Kevin