| Did you know that telltales along the luff of your | | | | person on the sailboat wheel or tiller to see than |
| sailboat cruising Genoa are just one of the places that | | | | headsail luff telltales. Cut one 9" and two 7" pieces of |
| apparent wind indicators will help you sail better? | | | | yarn. |
| Follow these three simple tips to pump up your sailing | | | | Tie the 9" yarn onto your backstay and the two 7" |
| performance for faster passages - or blow away the | | | | pieces onto each upper shroud. Install them at least 6 |
| competition on race night! | | | | feet off the deck. Your shroud and stay telltales will be |
| 1. Install Luff Telltales on Your Headsails | | | | more accurate in the less turbulent air up high off the |
| Keep the wind flowing smooth and without turbulence | | | | deck. |
| across your Genoa of jib. These sails receive the wind | | | | 3. Use a Masthead Fly for Wind Direction and Speed |
| first, so it's super important to trim them right. Luff | | | | Install a manual or electronic-linked masthead fly on top |
| telltales help you do this. Your sailmaker may have | | | | of your masthead. These indicators give accurate |
| installed these when the sail was built. Or, add your | | | | wind direction and speed up high off the water. Wind |
| own in a jiffy with these simple steps: | | | | direction and speed high up off the sea surface are |
| * Measure the luff of your headsail. Divide this length | | | | quite different than nearer the surface. Higher winds |
| by 4. | | | | aren't slowed down by the friction of land and sea, like |
| * Start at the head or tack. Mark the luff of the sail | | | | those winds closer to the surface. |
| with your measurement. | | | | You can see this if you look at any sailing vessel from |
| * Thread a sailmaker's needle with 12" of angora | | | | astern. Notice how the mainsail and headsail tend to |
| wool*. | | | | open up--or "twist"--near their tops. They do this to |
| * Punch the needle through your marks. Center the | | | | align with the different wind direction high up off the |
| wool with 6" on each side. | | | | water. So, a masthead indicator will be accurate, but |
| * Tie an overhand knot on each side close to the sail | | | | you'll also need to use one or more of the other |
| surface. | | | | indicators described above. Combine indicators to trim |
| Keep the telltales on both sides of your headsail | | | | your sails for peak performance. |
| streaming in a "V" pattern. This indicates smooth air | | | | Choose one or more of these apparent wind |
| flow on each side of your Genoa or jib. | | | | indicators for better power, speed, and performance. |
| 2. Tie Rigging Telltales onto Shrouds and Stay | | | | They will help you "see the wind" for sailboat cruising |
| Use shroud and stay telltales for an instant at-a-glance | | | | or racing sailing--wherever in the world you choose to |
| apparent wind indicators. They are easier for the | | | | sail! |