I’m looking for information about placement of the wishbone on the mast. Prior owner raced and placed it lower than most I think to increase sail area. Anyone know of a good discussion of the placement and impact of the wishbone on sail dynamics?
Hi Dan,
Do you suspect Sakina’s PO changed the length of her wishbone hangers ? That would be a very unusual change to make, but easily verified by looking at the standing rigging page in your manual.
While sailing, your mainsheet and choker will determine where your wishbone sets. Topping lift is rarely used while sailing. Post a picture while at sail for better comments.
Choker adjustment gives the proper sail draft for the wind conditions. The wishbone height changes slightly as the sail shape changes.
Soave is a NS33 so my layout is a little different. Your cradle lines look proportionally long compared to Soave so your sail sits a little lower while stowed (no big deal, but if you decide to shorten them, some folks also use webbing under the sail to reduce chaff on the sail when stored).
I also notice your mainsheet is run through a turning block attached to your corner casting. Both Soave’s corner castings are very worn where the stainless shackle rubbed the aluminum casting. Good to inspect your corner castings a couple times a season. Some boats have been modified to instead us a cheek block mounted to the cockpit coaming.
Enjoy the 2026 sailing season !
Rob…
A direct side-view photo would be more informative about the height of the boom relative to the mast. But from looking at these two photos it does not look low to me. Look at the padeye and turning block on the mast. The block on the fore end of the boom looks higher than those to me, not lower. (At this angle, anyway.) I’m not sure about all aspects of sail and rig setup, but it seems like the hardware would see the least stress if the boom block was at the same level as the mast hardware. My boom also rides a little higher than the mast hardware and I’d be very interested to know what Mike Quill (super rigger) or other more experienced Nonsuchers have to say about that.
Dan,
I agree with Brian G about the hanger lines not being to long. The choaker line is a bit lower thru the turning block and I think that would help stabilize the wishboom a bit. I also think horizontal between the mast block and the boom end block would be optimal. If the line was pitched downward that would try to lift the boom off the hanger lines.
Brian C
It looks pretty normal to me.
The rig is a pretty dynamic one. The boom hanging from straps, rather than bolted to the mast, gives it lots of room to move. You might think that means it needs lots of fussing and adjusting, but it’s very well thought out and largely self-adjusting. The mast flexes to absorb gusts, the weight of the boom holds itself down pretty well. You pretty much just adjust sail shape with the choker. Ease it and the sail becomes more full and powerful, tension it and the sail is flattened and depowers. It is very common for me to see half a knot or more of variation just by fussing with the choker for a moment. (And I don’t think I’ve ever really tried to optimize it when I did.) I know some people use the topping lift when going downwind, but I have never done so and haven’t felt the need. I know there are really busy-minded people who can’t sit still and must always be fussing with things, but I think that kind of misses the point on a Nonsuch. They are amazingly easy to sail and very easy to sail reasonably well. If you want to race, then there are racers here who might know little tweaks, but I suspect you are going to have to ask about specific problems you are trying to solve.
While I was writing this, I see you added another picture. Both an ideal view and a very pretty picture.
I think you’re getting very good advice from the others.
The one tiny comment I’d add is that it’s worthwhile to ensure that the boom doesn’t chafe the choker lines when it’s pulled tight to the mast. That means that the angle of the choker line from boom to mast should be either horizontal or upwards.
I recently had to help a friend replace the choker lines on his Nonsuch because the boom had almost chafed through the old line. We ended up adding a chafe protection sleeve around the new one.
There’s a religious debate about whether or not you want to be able to pull the boom all the way back to contact the mast. (This is determined by how much distance you set up between the sail clew and the aft boom fitting.)
Those who like being able to do so feel it gives them a good way to prevent the boom from swinging sideways and banging on the mast when motoring in a seaway. The disadvantages are that: (1) you have to set the distance between the sail clew and aft boom very carefully or you’ll lose the ability to fully flatten your sail; and, (2) if your boom contacts the mast below the choker lines, you’ll chafe the hell out of them.
-- Bob
Very helpful; thank you.
Dan
Hi Dan
When the hangers are in line with the mast, the wishbone centerline (bumpers) should intersect the mast about 7 inches ABOVE the centerline of the choker block as designed by Mark Ellis on a Nonsuch 30. Yours seem to look just fine.
Cheers
Mike Quill
Soave’s choker would be set much looser under these conditions. From the sea state I’m guessing 8-10 knots. In light wind at this angle to the wind I would have her choker set so I could see a slight bump in the sail where it touches the leeward wishbone.
Every boat is different so I may be reading the conditions all wrong, if so forgive me.
Also, I agree that the angles of the choker line may be prone to chaff. Maybe check how your sail clew is attached to your wishbone and see if there is a way to bring the sail clew closer to the wishbone. Shortening this distance would allow you to flatten the sail without applying as much choker and open up the angles the choker line need to follow into the block. The chaffing on Soave happens where the choker line rubs the side of the block when the sail is eased and choker is tight. Some of the cool kids have this block mounted on a swivel bracket to follow the lead angle. On Soave the block is fixed and this upgrade is low on my priority list.
I wouldn’t rush to shorten your hanger cables.
The first thing I’d check are the dimensions of your sail. Easiest way to do this is to find another Nonsuch 30 and compare sails by laying them flat with the luff of the sails on top of eachother. See where your clew falls relative to the other boat.
Smooth sailing…
Rob..