Archive for March, 2012

PostHeaderIcon Pre-feeder

a device used to remove wrinkles and minor twists in a sail, so its luff tape/boltrope will slide smoothly into a luff groove’s sail feed opening on a mast or head foil. This allows for hoisting the sail more easily and quickly, and prevents damage to the sail. One pre-feeder type is a semi-circular ring with an opening slightly larger than luff tape. On either side of the opening are large rollers. Another type consists of a pair of smooth prongs that radiate aft, downwards, and outwards from either side of the sail feed. The purpose of each design is to accommodate the severe angles of the incoming luff tape and to redirect it towards the feeder. The roller types are also known as monkey balls or monkey nuts.


PostHeaderIcon Mexican

a spinnaker douse wherein a boat does a no-pole jibe, but the spinnaker is left flying on the new windward side, where it collapses against the jib (i.e., it is backwinded) as it is pulled down. West Coast and Southern Hemisphere sailors sometimes call this a Kiwi. Generally referred to as a jibe takedown. Legend has it that Buddy Melges coined the term during the 1992 America’s Cup. San Diego’s prevailing winds were so consistent that every time the boats rounded the leeward mark and executed this takedown, they were pointed towards Mexico. See also: casper douse.

PostHeaderIcon Lull

a short-duration decrease in true wind speed, with the result that apparent wind direction moves forward on the boat’s sail plan. Upwind, lulls affect a boat more frequently, but for a shorter duration than downwind, because the boat and the lull move in opposite directions. Downwind, lulls are less frequent but affect a boat for a longer duration than upwind, because the lull and boat move in the same general direction. Sometimes referred to as a hole or a wind hole. See also: velocity header.

PostHeaderIcon Discontinuous Rigging

a rigging configuration where shrouds are made up of relatively short rod or cable lengths, and where each span between spreaders, between a spreader and the mast, or between a spreader and the deck is terminated in a tang, turnbuckle, or other link. Compare to: continuous rigging.

PostHeaderIcon Headsail

(pronounced “headsul.”) Any sail tacked aft of the headstay or forestay and forward of the forward-most mast, such as a genoa, jib, or storm jib. Sometimes referred to as a foresail.

PostHeaderIcon Blanket

a tactical maneuver where a boat uses her sails to block a competitor’s wind and slow the competitor down. See also: dirty air, gassing, herding, slam dunk, and tight cover.

PostHeaderIcon Clew

the lower aft corner of a triangular sail, where the sail’s foot meets its leech. On a headsail or spinnaker, sheets are attached to the clew. An outhaul and Velcro safety strap attach to the clew of a mainsail. Compare to: tack. The lower forward corner.

PostHeaderIcon On Her Feet

as in the phrase, ‘keep the boat on her feet,’ means to keep the boat level—not heeled over. Compare to: broach, on her ear and on her lines.

PostHeaderIcon S6

a symmetrical spinnaker designed for use above 25 true wind speed, depending on AWA, and apparent wind angles between 130 and 170 degrees. Also called a Fractional Runner.

PostHeaderIcon Monkey Nuts

slang for a roller-type sail pre-feeder. Also called monkey balls.


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