The navigator© wrote:

I wonder if our disagreement arises because your theories are based on
ideas originating from the "eliptical wing" and a desire to make the
main adopt an eliptical shape as far as camber is concerned (by making
the top fuller)?

Huh? AFAIK the elliptical wing is usually referred to profile, not section shape.

So, I can definitely say, no that's not it.


Increasing fullness also helps solve the roach support
problem -which is offset in modern sails with full length battens and
stiffer fabrics. Some sudies (e.g. here at Auckland) have shown this is
not correct for high aspect roachy mains where the camber (and lift)
should be reduced at the top of the sail to reduce heeling moment.

Hello? Why are you talking about 'reducing heeling moment' in light air?

In
the extreme case, negative (!) camber could improve performance by
reducing the heeling of the vessel..

Yes it could, but not in light air.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King