Loose footed mainsail?
 

I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the points
between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same for
furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have them
put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides at
the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.

--

Roger Long



"Don White" wrote in message
...
I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides
(slugs) sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier
to raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

Don White wrote:
I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

You only need one slug on the foot, right near the clew... but it has to
be a strong one.

I happen to like loose footed mains and they are a little easier to rig
IMHO. When you put slides on the luff don't forget to put a gate on the
luff slot entry.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Roger Long wrote:
Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the points
between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same for
furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have them
put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides at
the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.


Yes, I do have one set of reef points.
I haven't used this sail yet. Wonder if I should hold off until I see
how it works...or just get the slides and adjust later if needed?

Put the slides on. They can be adjusted later by using longer or
shorter shackles or seizing. You can even fiddle with them yourself by
using temporary lashings.

--

Roger Long



"Don White" wrote in message
...
Roger Long wrote:
Do you have reef points? It's way easier to reef putting the
points between the bolt rope and boom than around the boom. Same
for furling. The sail stays on top of the boom.

If you don't have reef points, this would be a good time to have
them put in.

If you leech isn't quite right, too tight or too loose, tell the
sailmaker. Adjustments can sometimes be made by making the slides
at the end closer or farther away from the bolt rope.


Yes, I do have one set of reef points.
I haven't used this sail yet. Wonder if I should hold off until I
see how it works...or just get the slides and adjust later if
needed?

Was this originally a loose footed sail? If so, loose foot does have
some advantages. If not, you can't convert it to loose foot because
the sail has to be cut and constructed differently.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
Was this originally a loose footed sail? If so, loose foot does have
some advantages. If not, you can't convert it to loose foot because
the sail has to be cut and constructed differently.


No...it has the bolt rope on the foot and luff. The foot isn't a big
deal to me at this point...I mainly want to be able to raise and lower
the main from the cockpit.
note: my crew is slightly questionable (wife)

Roger Long wrote:
Put the slides on. They can be adjusted later by using longer or
shorter shackles or seizing. You can even fiddle with them yourself by
using temporary lashings.


Thanks Roger...I'll take my sail over this afternoon.

On Fri, 13 May 2005 00:40:10 GMT, Don White
wrote:

I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

I have slugs in my mainsail foot, and I am considering having the next
mainsail (a used composite racing sail I got cheaply and will have cut
down to fit my small IOR-style main dimensions) go in without slugs so
I can use the outhaul a bit more freely G.

I think there are pros and cons very much dependent on style of
sailing and size of boom. I haven't had bad things to say about slugs
on the foot...far from it as it makes for a tidy flake and stowage of
the sail for one...but I think I can get a bit more zip out of a
loose-footed mainsail in my "fast cruising, not racing" game plan.

YMMV,
R.

Don White wrote:

I'm taking my mainsail to the sailmaker tomorrow to have slides (slugs)
sewn to the luff. I believe this will make it much easier to
raise/lower the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.
Does anyone have an opinion on doing the same for the foot?

We have both a loose footed main and a loose footed staysail, and all
of the sails are handled from the cockpit. Our main came to us that
way as a behind the mast furler. Our staysail was loose footed, and
we kept that aspect when we replaced it with a roller furled sail.

I can handle the staysail, but I have a hard time with the jib and I
can't furl the main by myself.
grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html

Rosalie B. wrote:

We have both a loose footed main and a loose footed staysail, and all
of the sails are handled from the cockpit. Our main came to us that
way as a behind the mast furler. Our staysail was loose footed, and
we kept that aspect when we replaced it with a roller furled sail.

I can handle the staysail, but I have a hard time with the jib and I
can't furl the main by myself.
grandma Rosalie



I can see that your mast and sails are a bit bigger than mine. I can't
wait to get my sails back and try them out.

Don White wrote:

Roger Long wrote:

Was this originally a loose footed sail? If so, loose foot does have
some advantages. If not, you can't convert it to loose foot because
the sail has to be cut and constructed differently.


No...it has the bolt rope on the foot and luff. The foot isn't a big
deal to me at this point...I mainly want to be able to raise and lower
the main from the cockpit.
note: my crew is slightly questionable (wife)

If you can pull down the jib (or furl it, not so desirable, for me)
from the cockpit using a downhaul line, reefing the main then
becomes much easier, especially if you can steer the boat should it
stall and go backwards. At this point, the tiller becomes a little
wilful, but steering so as to keep the main almost over the boat
while it is being allowed to drop by it's own weight to be reefed is
not as difficult as it mighty seem. Just be sure you let the
mainsheet ease somewhat while you reef. I have very seldom been in
such a situation, but I was at the mast and frau was getting yelled
at: "Keep it headed upwind!" It's confusing, the first time. Some
boats will sail well in reverse, and some will scare hell out of
you, but will do it anyway. You should practice when you don't need
to. If you get turned so the sail slides jam, you must sail a reach
a little bit, then head up and get the main down. A smooth set of
slides should come down easy, so long as you don't allow the sail to
lean on the spreaders. Reefing lines to the cockpit is not all that
hard to rig if you spend a few bucks for tackle.

With no jib, and even a main hanging in bags, you should still be
able to sail, more or less to a close reach, and reef the main.
Then, rehoist the working jib, or a yankee cut self tender, and sail
on. Provided you have sea room, of course. Pay attention! Reef early!

If you are getting old and stiff, like me, it is still not so much
effort that I get out of breath. As far as falling off, because of
insufficient strength to clamer about, well, if you are getting
there, it may be time for a steamboat with a cabin boy.

A little adrenalin when you get scared can do wonders, if you don't
give in to panic.

Terry K

Terry Spragg wrote:

If you can pull down the jib (or furl it, not so desirable, for me)
from the cockpit using a downhaul line, reefing the main then
becomes much easier, especially if you can steer the boat should it
stall and go backwards. At this point, the tiller becomes a little
wilful, but steering so as to keep the main almost over the boat
while it is being allowed to drop by it's own weight to be reefed is
not as difficult as it mighty seem.

Rather than the downhaul, why not fit an eye in the luff at the reef
height? Simple hook, block & inexpensive block at the deck makes a
cockpit reef haul at the ready.

If one is inexperienced, or nervous, and alone or with questionable
crew, why not reef in irons? Once the luff has been hauled down the
rest is fairly fast despite the flapping, and if one is nervous or
scared (or starting to head off & heel) one doesn't have to get all of
them tied in one whack, either.

If his luff is sticky or less-than-fast/easy to lower/raise than with
slides, it seems more likely that the boltrope is incorrectly sized for
the mast slot or swollen with age, probably the latter? It should drop
smartly by its own weight when out of the wind. I'd correct that
instead of adding more hardware to screw with, no?

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:51:21 -0300, Terry Spragg
wrote:

Most new sailors take too long to master the art of controlling the
power their sails swallow from the wind. One suspects they don't
want to go out in the bay on a fine day and make a spectacle of
themselves, sailing in reverse while reefing, heaveing to 'till it's
second nature, and learn to balance their sails so they can steer
without using the tiller. Once learned, it is like riding a bike
while standing on your head on the saddle, easy as eating cannonball
pie.

Terry K

snipped for size Sterling advice on every point (learned personally
the hard way, alas), and I can tell it would be a pleasure to sail
with such a knowledgable and unflappable sailor as yourself.

The basics of sailing are well-known, but to get the most of your
boat, you have to go out in all weathers and tweak until you find both
the boat's sweet spots and the best order and methods by which you can
sail efficiently. I know some veteran sailors who really don't "get"
concepts like bagging out the foot, using the Cunningham or slacking
off a backstay on certain points of sail. The controls *do* make a
diference, and not only on the racecourse, but in better cruising.

R.