On Tue, 12 Aug 2003, "Donal" wrote:

. . . an in-mast furling main sail . . .

. . . which, comparatively speaking, might be used more of the time
than one that requires more work to hoist and take down, . . .

. . . will usually be considerably smaller
than a standard sail, due to the lack of roach.

As a general matter, this is often true (but compare some
vertically-battened moderen in-mast furling mains).

But even when correct, it disregards the reality (especially for newer
computer-assisted designs) that modern hull shapes and (newer) boat
design/fabrication also frequently favors comparatively early reefing
but at no loss of sailing performance.

In other words, at many windspeeds and related weather conditions,
the,
"Is 'performance' always 'better'?"
question is often almost wholly (and, in some cases, entirely) moot.

Relatedly, HOWEVER, I most certainly am NOT arguing that This compared
with That sail is always "better" (much less "best") for all persons
on all boats ("cruising" or otherwise) in all conditions (or vice
versa). As in all else in sailing, its an "it depends ..." and "there
always are trade-offs" kind of Thing (re. which, f'rinstance, the
original posting in this thread does not specify whether the boat in
question will have a shoal or finned-compared-with-bulbed or mid-size
or deep keel, among other performance-affecting variables).

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003, "Donal" wrote:

. . . an in-mast furling main sail . . .

. . . which, comparatively speaking, might be used more of the time
than one that requires more work to hoist and take down, . . .

If health reasons made getting a sail up and down difficult, then I might
consider a furling main. As it is, I'm not sure that it takes any longer
to hoist. I use lazyjacks to drop my main into the sailbag. It only takes
about 3 mins to flake it out and zip up the bag. So I agree that taking the
sail down will take a bit longer. However, I find it difficult to accept
that anyone would forego the use of the main because it was too difficult to
hoist on any boat under 40'.




. . . will usually be considerably smaller
than a standard sail, due to the lack of roach.

As a general matter, this is often true (but compare some
vertically-battened moderen in-mast furling mains).

I haven't seen these. They sound like they might suffer from jamming.


But even when correct, it disregards the reality (especially for newer
computer-assisted designs) that modern hull shapes and (newer) boat
design/fabrication also frequently favors comparatively early reefing
but at no loss of sailing performance.

In other words, at many windspeeds and related weather conditions,
the,
"Is 'performance' always 'better'?"
question is often almost wholly (and, in some cases, entirely) moot.


The guy that I chartered the boat with a furling main from, said that the
furling system meant that he could always reef exactly by the amount that
he wanted, and therefore he could keep up more sail in heavy weather. I
found that the sail shape was dreadful, and that the boat wouldn't perform
well in any conditions. BTW, the boat was a Barvaria 44.



Regards


Donal
--

"Donal" wrote in
:


wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003, "Donal" wrote:

. . . an in-mast furling main sail . . .

. . . which, comparatively speaking, might be used more of the time
than one that requires more work to hoist and take down, . . .

If health reasons made getting a sail up and down difficult, then I
might consider a furling main. As it is, I'm not sure that it takes
any longer to hoist. I use lazyjacks to drop my main into the sailbag.
It only takes about 3 mins to flake it out and zip up the bag. So I
agree that taking the sail down will take a bit longer. However, I
find it difficult to accept that anyone would forego the use of the
main because it was too difficult to hoist on any boat under 40'.




. . . will usually be considerably smaller
than a standard sail, due to the lack of roach.

As a general matter, this is often true (but compare some
vertically-battened moderen in-mast furling mains).

I haven't seen these. They sound like they might suffer from
jamming.


But even when correct, it disregards the reality (especially for
newer computer-assisted designs) that modern hull shapes and (newer)
boat design/fabrication also frequently favors comparatively early
reefing but at no loss of sailing performance.

In other words, at many windspeeds and related weather conditions,
the,
"Is 'performance' always 'better'?"
question is often almost wholly (and, in some cases, entirely) moot.


The guy that I chartered the boat with a furling main from, said that
the furling system meant that he could always reef exactly by the
amount that he wanted, and therefore he could keep up more sail in
heavy weather. I found that the sail shape was dreadful, and that the
boat wouldn't perform well in any conditions. BTW, the boat was a
Barvaria 44.


Run away Donie!

there's a good boy.


Good thng the others forced you into retiring, eh fjuckwit?

Ooops!
Better not answer, hothead, the others will spank you and you're already on
the ****list for egging me on. the one or two people who already don't
think you're a complete **** might change their minds if you try and stand
up to the bunyip.

Best hide.

I think one of my other k00ks might have some room under his bed he can
share with you.


Guess this means I win, fjuckwit!

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Bertie