Cunningham (sailing)

The Cunningham executor (also downhaul, cunningham hole or eyelet Cunningham ), Cunningham short, is a trimming device for sailboats. It is used for tensioning or loosening of the mainsail immediately after the luff. Clamping has a flat sail shape and a shift of the sailing abdomen forward consequence; the decline does the opposite - bellied sail shape, sail shift of the abdomen to the back. The Cunningham executor should contribute to optimal sail trim and thus to a high speed.

Application

Rule of thumb for the use of the Cunningham is: In stronger winds, or at Am Downwind (the wind coming diagonally from the front ), you should use the Cunningham executor prevail ( tighten ); waned in light winds, or at half Downwind (the wind coming from the side ), downwind courses (the wind comes from angle from the back ) or on Downwind (the wind coming directly from behind ), should the Cunningham executor eased ( ) are. On the other hand, the practical utility of the Cunningham is also questioned, since the effect of wind forces the additional voltage by the Cunningham executors far outweigh and ultimately the mast itself is bent accordingly. Both effects have a greater impact on the luff than the Cunningham executor.

Is named the executor Cunningham after its inventor, the American Briggs Swift Cunningham II, an America's Cup racers and racers. On some dinghies and yachts, a vertically movable gooseneck assumes the function of the Cunningham.

Operation and design

The Cunningham executor may be constructed differently in different types of boats. General is a necessary Kausch ( a, reinforced with a metal ring, circular opening ) in canvas which is mounted just under the luff of the sail and above the neck, and a leash by their Anholen, or weigh the desired trim is effected. By Kausch the leash the Cunningham runs. Some Cunningham straightener are built up a tackle ( this construction is used for power saving); with them the Cunningham executor is fixed with a becket in the thimble. The loose part of the line (there may be two ropes ) the Cunningham is mostly occupied in a cam cleat.

The Cunningham executor has a similar trim function as the main halyard, but it is easier to use and considerably more power saving because it is not effective against the train of the mainsheet and boom vang of.

Bewirkter trim

Using the Cunningham can tighten the canvas immediately behind the luff or loosen; According to this has a trim of the mainsail. Is trimmed according to two criteria: firstly, by the wind force, and on the other by the sailed course.

In strong winds it will set the example by Cunningham executor strong - in light winds it should, however, be eased. Otherwise is trimmed after the course: with wind from forward of direction, ie for all close-hauled courses, the cunningham executor is usually enforced strong; with wind from quartering or abaft direction, ie downwind courses, the cunningham executor is usually eased, the Cunningham contractor will also eased at the half - hauled course.

Enforcing the Cunningham has according to a displacement of the abdomen sail towards the tack, so forward and downward, and a flat sail shape. Normally, as long as enforced until the possible transverse folds of the sail disappeared. Using a flat sail shape, a high price can sail to the wind. Enforcing the Cunningham also shows its advantages over the Trimming with the halyard, for while when using the Cunningham the leech open ( bent or curved) remains ( of some boats it opens up even further ), is using the main halyard the entire sailing affected, ie the leech closes (it has no curvature or camber more).

The easing has the Cunningham shifting the sails belly towards sailing center, and thus a bauchigeres sail profile result. In addition, the sails belly gets bigger.