johno Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 In some other threads some people say that they carry a vang with as much as 8:1 purchase. All of the boats at my club don't carry one because catamarans have a travellers and it gives the same action. What is the justification in having one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAX Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 I carry an 8:1 vang most races on ZAX although it is possible to sail ok without it. Sailing sloop or with the squaretop sail I don't use it as it is better to tack downwind rather than going square. Cat rigged we tend to sail more square downwind and you soon run out of traveller when the boom is touching the side stay. therefor the traveller does nothing to keep the boom down at that point. Thats mostly why I use the vang. I use 8:1 just so it is easier to pull on when required. Sometimes I use it on a reach when I feel too lazy to use the traveller. On a beam reach sometimes it is necessary to use it when the traveller is all the way out. It also can take some of the load off the mainsheet at times. the other thing I find it useful for is that it helps stop the mast rotating backwards when the breeze picks up on a work. Most people at Mannering Park Sailing Club don't seem to bother much with the vang but I like to use it. Some of the other Cat rigged mari's at Mannering Park sail less square downwind than I do and even tack downwind. If I sailed that style I would not use the vang. I also take it off when sailing with a crew. The only other boat I know of that uses it is Coolit. Coolit was always a strong wind specialist and seemed to make good use of the vang. Other Cat rigged boats such as Wild Thing sailed by Darren Bundock did not have a vang at all so it really is personal preference. I would recommend to anyone to have a good and easy to use downhaul system prior to considering a good vang. cheers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lachy pudney Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 the vang is also good to use in shifty winds as it is quicker to make small changes with your mainsheet with the vang on tight than with your traveller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAX Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Lachy sailed past me in one of the heats using that method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.