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Scott Corder
New member
Username: Pastcommodore

Post Number: 36
Registered: 02-2001

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Votes: 0

Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 01:01 pm:   

Lance,
Just a few thoughts on mains from me keeping in mind that we haven't spent much time exploring different types of mains here on the Great Lakes.

It strikes me that if you're racing against 911s and other lighter boats, you'll want to avoid giving them any more advantage, at least in light air.

RE roach and battens: We never buy full battens in a new sail, we always use that as a means of rejuvenating an older main after it has been used a while. The top batten is difficult enough to get through the backstay, let alone struggling with inverted battens all the way down in light air. Yes, the main can be difficult to get through the backstay, but we've simply worked out a tacking method that utilizes the traveller to help avoid the hang up. We've also found that allowing the main to tack through to a less than fully trimmed position on the new tack helps get it all the way through the backstay. We usually (especially in light air) tack to pretty broad angles to keep the boat moving, so having the main out a little for the first part of the new tack allows us to slowly power it back up as I gradually bring the boat closer to the wind as we speed up. Did you follow that? In simple terms, we let the main go all the way through to a sort of loose or sloppy trim on the new board and then trim that minimal sloppiness in as the boat speeds up on the new board.

One last point: regardless of the main sail, be sure to have your sailmaker construct the top batten pocket end so that it creates absolutely as little resistance to slipping through the backstay as possible. The style of pocket and retention strap will greatly improve or degrade the sail's ability to slip past the backstay.

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