Noun- short for Boom
Vang. A boom
vang is the mechanical part on a sailboat that holds down the boom of the mainsail. Usually adjustable, normally a diagonal brace that connects to the mast base at deck level and connects the mainsail boom about 1/4 to 1/5th of the distance from the gooseneck (hing connecting the boom to the mast)
Also called "the kicker" in UK or "contra" in Spanish.
Many modern boom
vangs also support the mainsail boom at rest.
Usually have a large mechancial advantage
with line and blocks, or hydraulics.
1. Give me more "
vang" to close
the leach of the mainsail.
2. Blow the "vang" when that gust hits or we're going to
broach.
3. The traveler doesn't work too good, so lets "vang"-sheet