The On Deck Channelvideo
Tuesday: A Day Aboard | Week 1 | New to Boat Life
April 22, 2026 · 13 min · 1K views · St. Petersburg
What this video covers
The owner of the sailboat Nomad prepares for its first sea trial by addressing loose rig tension.▶ 2:53 A professional yacht rigger advises using two wrenches to adjust turnbuckles while holding the upper stud stationary to prevent wire damage.▶ 4:54 To ensure symmetry, the rigger recommends measuring the distance from the turnbuckle pin to the swage stud on both port and starboard sides.▶ 7:05 Proper rig tuning involves tightening the cap shrouds most, followed by the intermediates and lowers.▶ 5:26 The rigger suggests a rough guide for forestay tension: no more than six inches of deflection in the middle when shaken.▶ 6:22 Before adjusting, the owner must sight up the back of the mast to ensure the mast remains straight.▶ 6:36 After applying two and a half turns to the turnbuckles, the owner observes increased preload and reduced slack in the rig.▶ 11:08 The owner plans to have a professional finalize the tuning before departing the dock.▶ 11:32
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