I need to draw on the collective wisdom of the group.
My problem is that I lack a simple way to explain sail handling to new (and temporary) crew.
While there are a number of sailing books around (and I have some on my shelves) what I am really looking for is a "short hand" way to explain sheeting of sails to an attentive-but-inexperienced crew person out for a day sail.
What I envision would be like a flash card sort of idea... one for the Main, one for head sails, and one for the chute.
Each would specify the parts each has in common / similarities, like an attachment for the Head, the Tack, and the Clew. The spinnaker drawing would only add that the the tack and clew change back-n-forth with each gybe. A quick sentence about Attached and Flying sails would be nice. A translucent Wind Arrow showing desired flow into the sail in question might help, too.
While it's nice, in the long run, to start with theory and work into practice, I find that for most casual crew this gets to be a little like the old saw about "asking for the time, and being told how to build a watch."
Once a sail is up and sheeted, I find that explaining air flow, the slot effect, reading tell-tales, and "when in doubt let it out" ... progresses naturally by observing the forces in real time.
So, all ideas are welcome... but please do try for the Occam's Razor version of the answer!
Something that can be printed out and laminated would be way cool.
:nerd:
Thanks In Advance,
Loren
My problem is that I lack a simple way to explain sail handling to new (and temporary) crew.
While there are a number of sailing books around (and I have some on my shelves) what I am really looking for is a "short hand" way to explain sheeting of sails to an attentive-but-inexperienced crew person out for a day sail.
What I envision would be like a flash card sort of idea... one for the Main, one for head sails, and one for the chute.
Each would specify the parts each has in common / similarities, like an attachment for the Head, the Tack, and the Clew. The spinnaker drawing would only add that the the tack and clew change back-n-forth with each gybe. A quick sentence about Attached and Flying sails would be nice. A translucent Wind Arrow showing desired flow into the sail in question might help, too.
While it's nice, in the long run, to start with theory and work into practice, I find that for most casual crew this gets to be a little like the old saw about "asking for the time, and being told how to build a watch."
Once a sail is up and sheeted, I find that explaining air flow, the slot effect, reading tell-tales, and "when in doubt let it out" ... progresses naturally by observing the forces in real time.
So, all ideas are welcome... but please do try for the Occam's Razor version of the answer!
Something that can be printed out and laminated would be way cool.
:nerd:
Thanks In Advance,
Loren