I am thinking of converting my main to a loose foot, but am confused
by your mention of a slug at the clew. I have a swiveling tack and an
out haul car on a track with slugs interspersed along the foot. If I
just sliced off the slugs, I'd have a loose footed main supported at
just the tack and clew much the same as every in mast furling main
I've ever seen. I'm not clear on what problem you see.



On 04 Sep 2003 14:04:57 GMT, (SAIL LOCO) wrote:

When it comes to seeing the "TRIM" the free foot has it all over the
closed foot.

By "free foot" I assume you guys mean loose foot. A loose foot does not have
it all over a main with an optional shelf foot. Loose footed mainsails are
pushed today by sailmakers because they are easier and cheaper to build. The
usual 3 pitches a sailmaker makes to the customer is 1. that when sailing
downwind the outhaul can be eased more to make the sail deeper 2. there is a
little more unrated sail area and 3. the outhaul might be easier to work since
there is no foot bolt rope or slugs to add friction. My problem with a loose
footed main is your in a bind when the one and only slug at the clew breaks. I
just bought a new main this past spring and I was given the loose foot pitch
but I opted for a shelf foot. And I race.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
Trains are a winter sport