Leech (sail)
The leech refers to the trailing edge of a fore-and-aft rigged sail or to the side edges of a square-rigged sail or spinnaker, either of which may be the trailing edge, depending on which tack the vessel is on.[1]
Edges of sails
The other edges of a sail are:
- The "head" is the upper edge of a quadrilateral sail, and is attached at the throat and peak to a gaff (for gaff-rigged sails), yard (for square-rigged sails), or other spar (e.g. Lug sails or spritsails).[2] On a triangular sail, the "head" is the top-most corner.[3]
- The "luff" is the windward vertical edge of the sail.[3]
- The "foot" is the bottom edge of the sail.[3]
Characteristics
Fore-and-aft sails: On fore-and-aft sails, including jibs and mainsails, leech tension affects the shape of the sail and is primarily controlled with the downward component of tension on the sheet, which is attached to the clew of a jib or the boom of a mainsail. Off the wind, less tension increases the curvature of the leech and consequently, the sail. The tightness of a jib leech is also affected by the angle at which the jib sheet leads to the deck—further aft creates a looser leech. On mainsails, tension on the halyard, boom vang and sheet can all affect leech tension and, consequently, sail shape. Downward tension on the boom vang helps avoid mainsail twist to create a similar curvature up the height of the sail.[4]
Symmetrical sails: On symmetrical sails, including square sails and spinnakers, both side edges are leeches. However, in use the windward leech of a symmetrical sail may be referred to as the luff.[5][1]
See also
References
- 1 2 King, Dean (2000). A Sea of Words (3 ed.). New York: Henry Holt. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-8050-6615-9.
- ↑ Jobson, Gary (2008). Sailing Fundamentals (Revised ed.). New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 208. ISBN 1439136785.
- 1 2 3 Jobson, Gary (2008). Sailing Fundamentals (Revised ed.). New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 21. ISBN 1439136785.
- ↑ Colgate, Stephen (1990). Steve Colgate on Sailing. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 37–38. ISBN 0393029034.
- ↑ King, p.283
Further reading
- MacKenzie, Mike (2005–2012). "Home page". Sea Talk Nautical Dictionary: The Dictionary of English Nautical Language. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- Rousmaniere, John (June 1998). The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: 2000 Essential Terms for Sailors and Powerboaters (Paperback). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 174. ISBN 0393339181. ISBN 978-0393339185
- Smyth, W. H.; Belcher, E. (1867). The sailor's word-book: An alphabetical digest of nautical terms, including some more especially military and scientific ... as well as archaisms of early voyagers, etc. London: Blackie and Son.
- A naval encyclopædia: comprising a dictionary of nautical words and phrases; biographical notices, and records of naval officers; special articles of naval art and science. PHILADELPHIA: LR HAMERSLY & CO. 1881. Retrieved January 23, 2014. at Internet Archive