Warping the sails: when, how and why they adjust like this
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Warping the sails is an expression we often read or hear about in boating, but what exactly does it mean and when and how should sails be warped?
Let’s start with the definition: a sail is warped or twisted when its upper leech portion is more open than its lower portion. Basically, the head of the sail has the leech less taut than the bottom, this creates the twist/helical effect.
When and how to warp the sails
Normally sails should be twisted upwind with little wind, to try to keep the head more open and the sail more powerful. For the jib, you bring the bogies a little further forward than usual, cock the barber inward if present, and keep the sheet slightly more let down to let the top breathe. We will have the lower part of the leech taut and rather inside the sheet point, with the jib head open.
Similar operation with the genoa: gear forward and sheet with a little less tension than it should be. Instead, the mainsail is wormed out by bringing the carriage almost to full upwind, leaving a bit of sheet and keeping the vang almost unloaded. Visually we will see the lower part of the leech being in line or slightly upwind of the boat’s centerline or backstay, and the head of the sail instead being more open downwind.
A similar effect on the jib is also sought in very strong winds, but the adjustment is different. In this case we will not have the undercarriage forward but rather backward, and it is this that will cause the sail head to open because the sheet instead will be capped at maximum trim and the barber will be just pinned or unloaded. Overall, the sail will be warped but much leaner than in the light wind situation. Similar operation is carried out with the genoa.
Mauro Giuffrè
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