Re: M_Boats: Does a loose footed main sail perform better
In a message dated 12/13/04 1:08:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, nbundek@earthlink.net writes:
he purchased a new "loose footed" main and had in increase in performance.
I don't think the difference between a loose-footed mainsail and a mainsail that is tracked on a boom would be detectable, if both sails are competently shaped, set up, and trimmed. One imagines there's something of an "endplate" effect with a mainsail tracked on a boom combined with a substantial "shelf" cut into the sail. The improvement in performance you mention might simply have come about because the sail was new and not blown out---not because it was loose footed. The loose footed mainsail is a little quicker to strike into its bag if you must dismantle the whole rig at the end of the day. Cheers, John
In my case you are correct! My main was very old and bagged out! I know I am not knowledgeable enough yet to tweak the sail trim enough to detect the diff between a new footed vs new unfooted main, if there is any at all. I do like the options with the loose foot. I use my outhaul much more than before. I seem to be able to keep a smoother looking sail. Whether it actually is doing me any good is probably debatable:)It is also much easier to bag the sail if I chose to take it off the boom. Kern was very helpful in answering my questions and I do like the sail.Costs were the same so it truly is a personal choice. The real lesson for me was the diff between a "new" sail and the "old" sail. I could point so much better to weather and the boat reacted so much quicker to the puffs! Now for this year a new Jib! Can I expect similar results? Doug --- JazzYachts@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 12/13/04 1:08:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, nbundek@earthlink.net writes:
he purchased a new "loose footed" main and had in increase in performance.
I don't think the difference between a loose-footed mainsail and a mainsail that is tracked on a boom would be detectable, if both sails are competently shaped, set up, and trimmed. One imagines there's something of an "endplate" effect with a mainsail tracked on a boom combined with a substantial "shelf" cut into the sail.
The improvement in performance you mention might simply have come about because the sail was new and not blown out---not because it was loose footed.
The loose footed mainsail is a little quicker to strike into its bag if you must dismantle the whole rig at the end of the day.
Cheers, John _______________________________________________
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I agree with John's post and would like to add that a shelf can be sewn into either type. The main advantage in a loose footed main is that when you ease the outhaul when bearing off to a reach, the sail goes "whop" and is instantly fuller. A big thing when rounding a weather mark in a race, but not otherwise. Jerry jerrymontgomery.org ----- Original Message ----- From: <JazzYachts@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 1:19 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Does a loose footed main sail perform better
In a message dated 12/13/04 1:08:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, nbundek@earthlink.net writes:
he purchased a new "loose footed" main and had in increase in performance.
I don't think the difference between a loose-footed mainsail and a mainsail that is tracked on a boom would be detectable, if both sails are competently shaped, set up, and trimmed. One imagines there's something of an "endplate" effect with a mainsail tracked on a boom combined with a substantial "shelf" cut into the sail.
The improvement in performance you mention might simply have come about because the sail was new and not blown out---not because it was loose footed.
The loose footed mainsail is a little quicker to strike into its bag if you must dismantle the whole rig at the end of the day.
Cheers, John _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
participants (3)
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doug -
JazzYachts＠aol.com -
jerry