There are several other rules that pertain to mainsails , like only one
mainsail aboard for racing, and measuring requirements, but the full
wording on "mainsails" for the GLAA is as follows:
12. Mainsail
12.1.Each mainsail shall be equipped with a headboard with a maximum
width of 5¼ inches, measured at right angles to the luff.
12.2.Each mainsail shall have a maximum of four (4) battens of any
length.
12.3.All mainsails shall, when in use, be attached to the spars for the
full length of the luff and foot, no loose footed cut mainsails shall be
used. The mainsail shall have a functional tack. Jack lines are allowed.
12.4.Devices such as Cunningham grommets, or tie lines maybe placed
along the luff or foot of the sail, but if jiffy slab reefing is used,
the minimum distance that the jack lines and grommets must be from the
foot of the mainsail shall be at least three feet.
12.5.Mainsails shall be made of woven Dacron cloth, 7.25 ounces maximum,
and 5 ounces minimum per running yard 28.5 inches in width.
12.6.Contrasting colour bands, one inch (1”) wide, shall be painted
around the mast, below the main halyard sheave and near the gooseneck
fitting, and so positioned so that the distance between the lower edge
of the upper band and the upper edge of the lower band shall not exceed
31 feet. The luff of the mainsail shall not extend beyond the inner
edges of the coloured bands.
12.7.A contrasting colour band, one inch wide shall be paintedon the
boom so that the inner edge shall be 14.25 feet maximum from the
afterside of the mast, not the track. The clew of the mainsail shall not
be pulled out beyond the inner edge of the coloured band.
12.8.The size of each mainsail shall be governed by the following:
Luff 31 feet max. (coloured bands on mast).
Foot 14 feet, 3 inches max. (coloured band on boom).
Leech 33 feet, 6 inches Mid-Girth 8 feet, 6 inches.
Notes:
12.8.1.The length of the leech shall be measured from the top of the
headboard to the clew.
12.8.2.The mid-girth shall be measured across the sail from the
mid-point of the luff to the mid-point of the leech. The width of the
luff rope or tape shall be included in the mid-girth measurement.
12.8.3.The mid point of the leech shall be determined by folding the
sail back on itself, bringing the head to the clew thimble and drawing
the middle of the leech taut with the same tension on each half. The
mid-point of the luff shall be determined the same way except with the
spike or pencil through the vee in the headboard and the tack.
The main differences in racing rules between the GLAA and the
Chesapeake exist because the GLAA executive have tried to make it so
Alberg boats from a small one design fleet can compete in PHRF races
without handicaps there due to class rules or having to buy 2 sets of
equipent for racing. As an example there are specified whiskerpole
lengths in our rules beyond the 10.5' allowed in the Chesapeake. This
rule has been maintained so that it is one design with limits even
though PHRF-LO has removed all regulation on whiskerpoles.
What is obvious is that the rules are quite specific. While the
maximum foot is 14' 3", that is an over allowance if the maximum
extension from the mast is 14' 3". There would be no room to allow for
stretch in aging sails. While there is no prohibition or support for
slugs on the foot, I would think it really necessary to have a multipart
outhaul to avoid scalloping on the foot with slugs, (and a boltrope
would be cheaper to build than slugs.) I did have a 14:1 outhaul and it
worked really well under almost any wind strength to adjust the foot to
just the point without wrinkles.
I do know of one loose footed sail that was built for an AL30 near
Hamilton. The sailmaker had to go out to the boat 3 times to try to show
the owner how to set the sail and in the end he bought the sail back. It
is now on a C & C Corvette and well liked by that sailor!
In all of these discussions, we shoud not lose sight of the facts
that the main only gives the boat 5/14 of its lift from the sail plan
and that venturis work best with laminar flow so anythng that interferes
with laminar flow is an increasse in drag, which limits pointing
ability. One degree of lost pointing in a 5 mile race is 17 boat
lengths. To win boat races, bring you calculator and your relatives,
because it is these small things that give you relative advantage, and
the skipper who has the best relative time is the winner.
Don
------ Original Message ------
From: "Gordon Laco via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
<public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Cc: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>; "Mike Nikolich"
<mike.nikolich550 at gmail.com>
Sent: 2021-04-14 1:18:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Mainsail configurations
>I’m certain slugs on the foot fully conforms
>
>G
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 14, 2021, at 12:19 AM, Mike Nikolich via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>>
>> I'm not so sure that having slugs along the foot violates the class rules.
>>
>> The Chesapeake Bay class rule states "All mainsails shall, when in use, be attached to the spars for the full length of the luff and foot. No loose-footed mainsails shall be used."
>> Other than the explicit prohibition of loose-footed mains the rule treats the luff and foot equally. Mainsails with external track slides attached at intervals along the luff are common, if not universal among the fleet. Why would slugs along the entire foot be different?
>>
>> I'll let Don or somebody else up North tell us if the Great Lakes Alberg Association rules are worded the same way.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>> Mike Nikolich
>> S/V Skybird
>> Alberg 30 #550
>>mike.nikolich550 at gmail.com
>> 703-859-6898
>>
>> On Apr 13, 2021, at 6:57 PM, Daniel Swords via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>>
>> Regarding the mainsail foot, I will repeat an earlier comment about using sail slugs instead of a bolt rope. I also don’t race so perhaps sail slugs are not legal for racing? I don’t understand how you can properly tie up the bunt of a reefed sail with the reefing nettles if the foot is fully attached to the boom with a bolt rope (since it is recommended that the nettles not be tied around the boom)? And since I sail singlehanded I prefer to stow my sail always fully attached to the mast (with slides) and boom (with slugs). Just BTW - Years ago I replaced my luff reefing horn with a snap shackle which I find infinitely easier to use when singlehanded reefing.
>>
>> Daniel SwordsSolitude 525Mandeville, LA
>>
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>
>>
>>
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