[Public-List] Loose-footed mainsail

[Dave Terrell]

Ed
 
I have a loose footed main - no not race. I really like it. One advantage is that on light winds you can ease the outhaul and put a lot of shape in the lower portion of the sail. You can do the opposite on heavy wind days and get a very flat sail in a hurry and with little work.  the same thing could be done when sailing down wind. If I understand the sail, this is what the loose foot is for. I will ask my sailmaker, Quantum TC, and I find different info, I will share it. I do remember that they said that loose footed sails have their origins in high end racing fleets and have "trickled down" to crusing and wednesday night racing.
 
If you can wait till spring to order the sail, you could leave the bolt rope out of the track and suddenly,  you will have a loose footed sail. That way you can check out the differences. If I recollect you are from Chicago and this is not an option right now.
 
The key issue seems to be whether you intend to one design race the boat. If you do, a loose footed is out; if not, you have a choice. 

>>> <mahseer at kos.net> 11/17/09 8:18 PM >>> 
Don 
It is my understanding from the Cheasapeke association that full batton 
sails are legal. I am sure the association will confirm this. 

John Boor 
MAHSEER #380 


> Hi Ed: 
> I am very pleased to hear that you are getting a new sail as a 
> cruiser. It should happen more often! 

> I do not see any major advantage for a loose footed sail for any 
> point of sail with an Alberg 30. If you order a sail with the draft 
> placement and depth specified for a bolt rope fit, you can easily avoid 
> any shelf or draft aft to begin with. Perhaps you will get a bit more 
> power off the bottom of the sail with more curve lower on the sail but 
> that would be the only place to gain. If you go with full battens, you 
> will get nearly the same sail shape. If you do get one, the depreciation 
> rate is extremely high the first time out because it cannot be sold to 
> an Alberg owner for anything but a cruising sail, since it is not 
> acceptable to either the Canadian or American race fleet. 
> 
> Don 
> 
> edward schroeder wrote: 
>> The "Emotional Rescue #303, has a sliding track on the mast for the the 
>> gooseneck and a boom with the usual groove for the mainsail foot bolt 
>> rope. We are ordering a new mainsail and all of the sailmakers 
>> interviewed are proposing a loose-footed mainsail and a cunningham. 
>> 
>> Has anybodies Alberg 30 got a loose-footed mainsail and, if so, are you 
>> satisfied? Do you tighten the outhaul from the aft end of the boom or 
>> have you rigged a system to tighten the sail from the mast end? 
>> 
>> With a sliding track on the mast for the gooseneck, with a downhaul, I 
>> see no use for a cunningham, especially since we don't race. Does 
>> anybody have a different opinion? 
>> 
>> Thanks, Ed Schroeder 
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