SEILmagasinetvideo
The leech line stops flogging
September 11, 2025 · 1 min · 452 views
What this video covers
A leech cord in a sail controls leech flutter, and tightening it when wind picks up extends sail life by stopping the flogging that degrades fabric.▶ 0:03 If the cord is overtightened before a light-wind day, the leech closes up and must be eased before sailing.▶ 0:03 Thomas Nilsson explains that on his mainsail the leech cord runs over the masthead and down the forward side of the mast, so it can be tensioned from the mast's front face — a safer arrangement than reaching to the back of the boom in strong wind.▶ 0:50 Not all sails are rigged this way.▶ 0:57 Anyone buying a new sail should specify that the leech cord be led forward and down along the mast so it can be adjusted from the front.▶ 0:51 The segment is part of a broader series covering individual lines on a sailboat and the common mistakes sailors make with each one.▶ 0:03
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