Topping Lift Initial setting

[Bill D]

Don anticipating delivery of your sail charts. In the mean time, when I rig my boat do I initially set the topping lift so that the boom is level, slightly pulling up or dropped at the clew?Thanks,Bill

[Robert Dean]

I trust we are talking about the same line.The topping lift I am familiar with is the line from the rear of the boom to the top of the mast- used to keep the boom end up when the sail is down.There is a topping lift used with the spinnaker pole - but that is different.I never sail with the topping lift set.Once the main sail is up and set I pull the topping lift down and forward and pass it under the reefing hook on the goose neckto get it out of the way.I cannot see a reason at any time to sail with the topping lift set with the main sail up.Yes I can - on a down wind run the topping lift and a safety preventer are use some times to keep the boom from moving up and down.Once the sail is down the topping lift is set to hold the boom end up to the desired height. Why would you sail with the topping lift holding the boom end up with the sail up and set set and full of wind ??Bob Dean

[Bob Camarena]

Robert is close to being right. I agree with him on almost everything except that there is one more situation in which you would sail with the topping lift set. In very light winds, the weight of the boom can prevent the sail from taking an optimal shape. A little tension in the topping lift can take the tension out of the leech and make your sail a little more efficient.