Clew Tie-down
There are a couple of variations of the clew tie-down that are used to keep the mainsail clew down close to the boom as you adjust the outhaul.
These include a small diameter (eg. 1/8 in) length of rope, which is wrapped around the boom and through the clew 2 or 3 times, and then tied off. Be careful not to tie the clew off too tight, otherwise, it will not slip along the boom when adjusting the outhaul.
Other designs consist of a strap (eg. velcro) that holds the clew close to the boom but allows it to easily slide along the boom as the outhaul is adjusted.
Having the clew secured close to the boom is important to ensure the best sail control and trim.
Can you use a hook on a laser boom as a clew?
Hello Isobel
If you mean using a hook that securely fastens the sail clew to the boom, then no, this is not recommended. This is because you want to be able to ease the foot of the sail to give it more shape if required. If you fix the clew to the boom, then it won’t be able to move in and out.
However, you can use a hook on the end of the outhaul which connects to the sail clew, as is shown in the photos on this page. This is a common setup and is preferable to running a rope through the clew eye at it has less friction.
Hope that helps.