[Public-List] Loose-footed mainsail

[Gordon Laco]

Can't resist joining in...

One of the things our boats are prone to is heavy helms due to the  
large main and forward position of the mast.   I reckon the range of  
conditions one can use a super-cambered mainsail are rather slim.  The  
imbalance in the helm might be expected to cancel out the benefits....

Ok - now let me have it, you lovers of loose footed (feeted) mains...

Gord

On 18-Nov-09, at 9:46 AM, John Birch wrote:

> It is interesting to note that the America's Cup Class are not loose  
> footed.
>
> As for the A Class Cats, part of the rationale for loose footing is  
> to save weight, as they are ultra high performance carbon wonders  
> which weigh a total minimum of 165LB, minus crew.
>
> The booms are a thin as broomsticks and would never support a tight  
> foot.
>
> The A-30 is a displacement hull, building a regular FB main with  
> minimum shelf (2-3 inches, not 6 or more) means you can still race  
> if you choose to or the next owner does.
>
> Hey, it's your boat, buy what you want.
>
> Me,  I like the notion of staying class legal.
>
> Best
>
> John
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Terrell" <dterrell at message.nmc.edu 
> >
> To: <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Loose-footed mainsail
>
>
>> 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 l
>> oose 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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>>
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>
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