Killing (sailing)

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The killing, upper part of the leech of a genoa .

Killen (from Middle Low German: kĩlen ) refers to the flapping of a sail or part of a sail. The reason for the flutter is turbulence of the wind along the sail due to incorrect settings of the sail profile , the angle of attack or because the ship is in the wind . Killen develops high forces (force = mass * acceleration) and leads to increased wear, especially in the area of ​​the sail seams (which loosen or tear out) and the leeches (which can wear out or in extreme cases tear).

It is particularly dangerous to kill a larger foresail in strong winds. Serious injuries can occur here from the sail and pounding sheets. If the boat is in the wind and thereby kills the main sail, there is also a considerable risk from the large tree swinging around.

The killing can usually be ended by adjusting the sail trim or changing course in the sense of luffing up and falling away. A slack leech can be soothed by gently pulling the leash (max. 1 cm). If the leash is pulled more than necessary, a “bag” forms, which a) leads to a stall (and thus to a loss of propulsion) and b) additionally deflates the leech. If a sail is very stretched out (warped) or badly cut, it is not possible to set a good sail profile and parts of the sail will kill regardless of course and sail trim.

Individual evidence

  1. Günther Drosdowski [Ed.]: Duden: The large dictionary of the German language in six volumes, Vol. 4 Kam-N . Bibliographisches Institut, Mannheim 1978, ISBN 3-411-01358-3
  2. Joachim Schult: Sailing technology . 11th edition. Delius Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld 2004, ISBN 3-87412-140-2
  3. Peter Schweer: The optimally trimmed rig . 10th edition. Delius Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld 2006, ISBN 3-87412-101-1

Web links

Wiktionary: killen  - explanations of meanings, word origins , synonyms, translations