These are the Cunningham, the boom vang, the reefing lines and the traveler. It is rigidly attached to the foot of the mast and has several blocks through which the Cunningham line runs. Support for the boom: A vang can make a great support to hold the boom up when you lower the sail, so you don’t need to attach a topping lift line or wire to the boom’s aft end. The hardware used for the cunningham and the reef is the same, however. My boat has a 4:1 vang set-up from the boom to an eye in the sail track. Discuss this video and anything sailing on my forum www.anything-sailing.com. Boat Info. This shows everything rigged. A boom vang (US) or kicking strap (UK) is a line or piston system on a sailboat used to exert downward force on the boom and thus control the shape of the sail. Forward Deck Layout. The boom vang takes over the job of pulling down on the mainsail clew and controlling twist when the boom is eased out for off-wind sailing. The Collins English Dictionary defines it as "A rope or tackle extended from the boom of a fore-and-aft mainsail to a deck fitting of a vessel when running, in order to keep the boom from riding up". When the vertical movement of the boom is fixed, a cunningham downhaul is used. Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Multi-purpose tackle. Uses SS Snap-Llinks vice Snap-Shackles. Just as you would with the mainsheet upwind, use enough tension on the boom vang to keep the top batten parallel to the boom. Sailing Instructional Video. A BOOM VANG (also called a "go faster" and "kicking strap") is a device that performs several functions. The Main Sail. The empty cleat to the left is for the main cunningham. Sailboat 4;1 VANG tackle has a 6' max purchase with current 3/8 dia line ideal for cunningham/downhaul/preventer use w/ AMCO Blocks. The Cunningham is really a down haul. Discussion Starter • #1 • Mar 27, 2012. The "Cunningham" is usually used on competition boats where more shape control of the sail is desired along the luff, but because of the racing rules, the boom cannot be hauled down below a certain pre-designated point. This consists of a line passing through a grommet several feet up from the tack of the sail, the line being used to haul the grommet down, thereby tightening the luff. The cunningham hole would actually consist of a grommet set between the first reef and the boom. The cleat in the center is for the boom vang. Downloads Weekly Quiz Topic FAQ 10000boatnames.com 235 Posts . Used as a cunningham/down haul for a jiffy reef system, and/or as a general service tackle for jibe prevention, or short vertical haul tackle on a 38' LOA boat. Rigid vangs, like the Forespar Yacht Rod, provide this support with an internal spring. It is made up of two blocks, a hook and a line. The two gray Clam cleats on the aft edge of the cuddy are for the barber in-haulers. Small video about the boomjack / boom vang.