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Should the mast rotate 180 degrees from tack to tack or should I tighten my rigging , also when you say third or fourth hole in the chain plates is that counting up or down I know the fourth is in the middle but its the third i need to know about.
Hi David,
Before you hoist the sail, it is always a good idea to check how easily the mast will rotate.
As a guide, you should be able to physically turn the mast with one hand through at least 160 degrees - the extra 10 degrees each side becomes stiffer as the top of the mast then touches the upper shrouds which start to resist further rotation. Also of course, when sailing a broad reach, the lower shroud position will prevent the sail from going out square across the boat anyway, so the mast profile does not need to rotate much more than the fore & aft angle of the sail.
Regarding chain plate reference, it is the 3rd or 4th hole DOWN, i.e. from the top, but shroud lengths can differ considerably, especially if new ones have been fitted at some time. As a guide, you would normally be looking to achieve a small amount of mast rake AFT, but always ensure that if you can pull the mainsheet in 'block to block' when beating, the leach is then tight and vertical.
Paul Smith (1961 Beaver S.C.)
