Tasar Datum Marks
First, follow the instructions in Checking the
Rig
Datum Marks
Datum marks enable known efficient sail shapes to be repeated
quickly and accurately.
The code, for fastest shape to windward, flat water, is
0 to 6 kts One dot
11 kts (design wind) Two dots
20 kts Three dots
The dots are positioned as follows:-
One Dot - light air. For sailing to windward in winds 0 to
5kts
Downhaul - Tension until female gooseneck lies on platform of mast
gooseneck.
Mark mast with one dot opposite downhaul cringle.
Rotation - 45 degrees (stop inside cage).
Outhaul - Start by putting a knot in the outhaul; and adjust its
position so it lies above the upper rivet of the vang block hanger
when the lower batten sets with 4 inches of camber.ie 4" to leeward
of a straight line from luff to leech. (the batten is about 100"
long so this is 4% camber). With a new sail the skirt will lie
along the boom. With an older sail the skirt will be
stretched.
Ease the outhaul until the lower batten sets 8% (ie. 8" or 200mm)
camber at middle of lower batten. Mark the boom opposite the knot
with one dot. Mark also the knot position for 12% camber with a
sharp arrowhead (for close reaching), and for 16% camber with a
broad arrowhead (for broad reaching ) Reset to one dot, then.
Vang - Tension to eliminate the diagonal wrinkles which radiate
from the batten
protectors. Mark the plastic opposite the pivot of the
block.
Jib Slides - Set against inboard stops. Mark the deck adjacent to
the stop plungers.
Two dots - moderate air. - Settings for 11 - 12 kts.
Outhaul - 4% camber at middle of lower batten. Mark opposite knot.
On a production boat the knot is at the block hanger for the vang
at this setting.
Rotation - 45 degrees.
Mainsheet - Tense to the point where the topmast just begins to
bend back and the top four battens begin to flatten. Mark the
mainsheet midway between the boom block and the floor block.
With a new mainsail, as the sheet is tightened the leech will
become taut, the top four battens will crumple fractionally, then
start to flatten. An older sail does not crumple.
Downhaul - Tighten sheet until the mark is ¾ down toward the floor
block. Adjust downhaul to eliminate diagonal wrinkles from the
batten protectors, and mark two dots.
Vang - Ease sheet until mark is ¼ down from boom block. Set vang
just taut, and mark.
Jib Slides - Against inboard stops - same as Light air
setting.
Three dots - strong wind.
Rotation - 45 degrees.
Outhaul - Very tight, and mark.three dots against knot
Mainsheet - Slack
Downhaul - Leave at two dots.
Vang - Tighten until the lower batten reverses near the mast, and
mark three dots. (The tension needed surprises most sailors.)
Downhaul - Tighten until the batten resumes its smooth (near flat)
shape, and mark three dots. (This tension, too, is severe.)
Jib Slides - Set out four holes, and mark,
Mast bend and Batten protectors. - While the mainsail is flattened
with "three dot" outhaul, downhaul and vang tensions applied, check
the mast bend. When viewed from abeam the mast and topmast should
adopt a smooth continuous curve which exactly matches the luff
curve of the sail
Also check the batten protectors. Any error in positioning is
revealed by diagonal wrinkles which radiate from the protector.
Reposition any offending protector closer to the bolt rope.