The vang: how to use it for better sailing
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Aboard a sailboat we will all have heard the word vang at least once. Rigid, hydraulic or textile, the vang is one of the crucial maneuvers for handling the mainsail, and its use is important in all gaits and wind conditions.
Vang: what it is, how to use it, what it is for
This accessory allows you to adjust the vertical position of the boom, thus changing the profile of the mainsail and leech in particular. Cocking it upwind for example leads to tensioning the leech of the mainsail, flattening the sail and giving a little bend to the mast.
This adjustment is done upwind in a strong wind, while in lighter air you simply have to point it, so as to give the correct shape to the mainsail (which must be rather twisted and powerful in leech, so soft spade). In medium-light wind, when we lay to windward, the vang instead should be caulked a little more than upwind to spread the sail more and offer more surface area to the wind.
In carrying swells with sustained wind, the vang is essential to depower the sail. Leaving it, if there is a risk of overstress, will raise the boom, warping the sail and unloading it.
The function of the vang is so important that on a racing boat it will be useful to have a person proposed to this task. Even when cruising, it is important to keep the top of the vang handy, especially if we are sailing in strong winds.
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