Cruising World - June 2018

UNDERWAY

WHAT YOU NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT RIG TUNE

& PERFORMANCE

The relationship between rig tune and
performance can seem like a black
hole. Quantum’s Dave Flynn clears up
the confusion by explaining the four key
elements of the rig.

1. RAKE
   Rake is determined by headstay length.
   Adding rake is a tool for generating power
   in light air and reducing rake is part of the
   de-powering process in heavy air.


2. ATHWARTSHIP TUNING
   If the rig is not centered side to side,
   performance and trim will be different tack
   to tack. To remedy this, center the top of the
   rig and then bring each successive panel in
   line with the top using the diagonal shrouds.


3. MAST BEND
   While rake is the amount the mast is angled
   aft, mast bend is the amount you bend it aft
   after you have set your rake. A rig that bends
   gives you a powerful tool for changing the
   shape of the mainsail–more bend flattens
   the sail and de-powers it; a straighter mast
   creates shape and power.


4. HEADSTAY SAG
   If some mast bend is good, why isn’t more
   better? The answer is headstay sag. When
   the headstay sags, the headsail becomes
   fuller and more powerful, which is great in
   light conditions. But as the breeze builds,
   you’ll want to reduce the amount of sag to
   de-power the boat and help with pointing.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
Keep it simple and think in terms of
increasing or decreasing power. Each of the
four elements of rig tune either works to add
power or take it away.

LEARN MORE
Read Dave’s full tips on QuantumSails.com.

QUANTUM SAILS

CRUISING

TIPS

1. KTI SYSTEMS
   keenan filter •
   $1,000 and up •
   keenanfilters
   .com

Nothing puts a

damper on a great

day of sailing more

than having the

engine quit due to

clogged fuel fi lters

as you are enter-

ing a busy harbor.

The Keenan fi lter

system puts an end

to that. It provides

fuel polishing, fi lter

switching, servic-

ing, clogged-fi lter

and water-detection

warnings and a

backup fuel pump

all in one compact

package.

2. WINEGARD
   MARINE
   connect wf-200m

• $479 • wine
  gard.com

For better or worse,

staying connect-

ed is a big part of

our lives these

days — even on the

water. The Connect

WF-200M com-

bines a long-range,

high-performance

Wi-Fi signal ex-

tender with built-in

4G LTE cellular

capability. And,

perfect for cruisers,

the company o ers

a range of a ordable

prepaid cellular

data packages.

3. SIREN
   MARINE
   mtc+2 starter kit

• $799 • siren
  marine.com

Worried about your

boat while you’re

ashore? Siren

Marine’s MTC+2

starter kit makes

it easy to monitor

your boat from afar.

The kit includes the

MTC unit and two

wireless sensors

that can monitor

battery voltage,

high water or un-

authorized entry.

Users can then

access onboard info

through the Siren

4. ALBIN PUMP
   premium water
   heaters • $775
   and up • albin
   pumpmarine.com

Nothing beats a hot

shower after a day

spent sailing. This

line of water heaters

from Albin Pump

is sized to fi t most

installation spaces

and features a non-

toxic ceramic lining

to protect the heat-

ers from corrosion

and the water from

harmful bacteria.

The water heaters

run o of shore

power, a generator

or the engine’s

coolant exchanger.

ALL SYSTEMS GO

1

2

4

3

IMAGES COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS