Downhaul tension question.

When you all pack up to come home, do you loosen the downhaul tension or just leave it alone?
Thanks
Paul Links

Paul, I unload all bungees, but don't worry about mainsail downhaul tension, purely because the tension required for sailing is not enough to distort the sailcloth (in my opinion). So I wouldn't be too concerned about damaging the sail. I just recheck mine about once a year.

BTW, I have given downhaul tension some thought, and decided that (unlike racing yachts, where the mainsail might have eight or more controls), Islands have a very simple set-up, and Islands are not all-out competition vessels.

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Thanks! I release all my bungees but didn't know if I there was a need on the sail itself.

I have wondered about this as well...
I don't loosen my downhaul either. I just snug it down and leave it. Then I'll check it every so often to make sure it's still snug.

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-- Chad | 2014 TI

I did a few times at first. But I noticed that this is not a downhaul like a "normal" sail.
It is not really sensitive to adjustment. My theory is that without a boom and outhaul
adjustment the downhaul doesn't do much. I also played with the batten tension and had similar results.
Nice to sail without controls to tweek but somewhat frustrating that I can't improve sail shape.

Sweet it's like a Ronco Rotisserie..... set it and forget it!

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

With a knot that will never work loose.

If that ever happens, you will understand why I emphasized that.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

I adjust the downhaul before every sail, loose for light wind days, firm for medium wind and tight for strong winds. I loosen it off after each sail to remove the tension and relax the sail.

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Sth East Qld Hobie Island Club Captain.
https://www.seqic.com.au

Spook, as sailing theory goes, this makes sense.

I use downhauls, backhauls and travelers all the time on larger catamarans, but I find downhaul adjustments pointless on our tiny, boomless, furling rigs. Our flexible masts and sails shape themselves nicely to the changing wind.

I can get a slightly better downwind sail shape and some measurable performance gains by using a simple outhaul, along with tweaking the mainsheet. Or using a paddle/whisker pole at times. Or the peddles.

It's smart to take all tension off the downhaul for winter storage, but that never comes here in the islands so I keep the mast rigged and ready to go.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

All this is correct, and too be honest adjusting the downhaul does not make a huge amount of difference, but for those like me that want to play with the sail then play away. It's fun and I have to say I am very fast.

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Sth East Qld Hobie Island Club Captain.
https://www.seqic.com.au

Well said. Cheers!

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The Wind Is Your Friend...