"Bob Crantz" wrote in message news | What is the significance of the foot of a loose-footed mainsail that hangs
| below the boom?

No significance other than it's an indication of an ignorant sailor who
would bend on such a slovenly sail.

| Is the sail correctly cut if, with the outhaul tight as it will go, the end
| of the boom hangs lower than the gooseneck?

Might or might not be. In some cases (J/24, for example) the sail is cut
so that the tack is higher than the clew. It's a way to cheat the rules.

Yours,
RWE

Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result.
Tears will get you sympathy, sweat will get you change.
- Jesse Jackson