Page 186 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

internal wishbone

ease the vang to let the boom swing across the deck. Figure 5-38. The Bierig Cambersail.
The vang now becomes a sheet. It’s a simple matter
to mark the sheets to indicate optimum settings for
beating, reaching, or running angles. When the tack
is complete, haul in on the old sheet to make it a
vang/preventer.
If you’re short-tacking or just feeling lazy, leave club
both sheets slack so each will function on alter-
nate tacks. Not quite as efficient, but completely
self-tending.
If your boat is a little slow in stays, leave the
vang side belayed as you tack. This automatically sheet sheet
“backs” the sail to help you through the wind. You
can also back the sail in order to heave-to, and of
course, the preventer is a wonderful crew-saver,
making the foredeck a safer place when reaching.
When you’re in port, there’s no traveler taking up
space on the foredeck. And you can tighten one sheet Figure 5-39. The Semi-Self-Tending Staysail.
and detach the other, for maximum lounging space.

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