[Public-List] mast base location

[Don Campbell]

    It is not hard to rake an Alberg mast . Just change the 
forestay:backstay ratio to shorten the backstay. I do have about 14 
inches of rake on #528 and it could be a bit more.
    As for a high aspect sail on Albergs, we have one boat in the GLAA 
that carries a Dragon main because the skipper says the balance is much 
better,  but definitely nothing as modern as something from the new J 
boat series, Roger. There are times when I feel cast-offs are not a good 
idea, and old or blown sails  should be junked not recycled to another boat.
    I would second Gord's comments about good sails. There is no 
comparison either above or below decks for the crew,  and that  
enthusiasm if Gord's ought to be catching, Masefield included. There is 
nothing as much fun as being able to make the boat go because you have 
something that you can work with and experiment with that produces 
results. If boats have personalities, they seem to enjoy and delight in 
the uplift as well.
    It should also be noted that the Pride of Baltimore lost her rig off 
France a year and a half or so ago so that rake is not everything when 
it comes to keeping things standing with sailing ability. You will find 
some interesting comments in some of Stuart Walker's books on how rake 
affected the performance of Finns particularly and that was found by 
accident as I recall, which resulted in either winning or getting much 
closer to an Olympic gold for that sailor.
Don

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