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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

1737.0. "LOOSEFOOTED MAINS" by TUNER::HO () Tue Jun 11 1991 15:43

    Is there any disadvantage to using a loosefooted mainsail?  Without the
    footrope in the boom track, it would be easier to attach fittings such
    as vangs, blocks, and reefing lines.  Plus, it would be easier to make
    and, perhaps, even cheaper to buy.
    
    So, why doesn't anyone do it on boats larger than a dinghy?
    
    - gene

T.R	Title	User	Date	Lines
1737.1	Lots do it, don't know why	AKOCOA::DJOHNSTON	`Tue Jun 11 1991 16:06`	6
	Lots of boats do it. Examples: Scherherazade, Rustler locally, some Fifties and Two Tonners in the Admirals Cup this year will have loose footed mains. In fact it has become chic to pull the chute down over the boom and into the hatch, requiring a loose foot. Dave
1737.2	In my limited experience ...	OFFPLS::RYAN	`Tue Jun 11 1991 16:16`	25
	This is an unqualified response but ... My father's S&S 21 and CAL2-24 in the late 70's had loose footed mainsails precisely because it was said to better for light wind adjustments (i.e. cunningham). At least this was the prevailing theory in Florida where winds are light and the name of the game is to make the main a billowy sail on a reach/down wind, and relatively flat to wind. I liked the sail shape much much better than I do with a slotted boom fitting. Boats without this cut just left the footrope out of the boom for a mediocre approximation. It also helps to have an outhaul on a track with sufficienct mechanical advantage rather than a single line attached to the end of the boom. Two disadvantages: reefing could be clumsy and the sails tend to stretch a little more. The CAL had slab reefing and occasionally the reefing would "blow out" at the foot (this might be owing to poor execution rather than a condemnation of loose footed mains). By stretching: after a while, the main wasn't as flat going to windward as it might have been with a main that wasn't exercised as much. I, too, am extremely interested in hearing more on this subject. Bob Bob
1737.3	Seems like a good performer.	MILKWY::WAGNER	`Wed Jun 12 1991 16:25`	9
	There's an Elite 30 in our fleet who has a plastic loose footed main, made by Haarstick down in Rhode Island. He took plenty o' silver last year, Collins biffed him 9 seconds this spring (then gave back 3) and he's still taking his share of bullets so far this year, albeit light air prevails- FWIW. Scott.
1737.4	I love my loose footed....	AKO539::KALINOWSKI	`Wed Jun 12 1991 22:39`	18
	My Hobie sx18 has a loose footed main. I find in really light wind, I can let up a bit on the outhaul to induce a bit more curve. the boat than starts out better. Sort of like driving upwind in first gear, but it is better than stalling in second ;>) When it is windy out, we will pull the clevis pin for the outhaul. Without the weight of the boom, the boat sits quietly into the wind. Letting off the downhaul only has a limited effect. Of course I am talking about just hanging around waiting for another race sequence to begin. I think the shape of the lower sail always looks better. The disadvantage is the gooseneck end is much lower, making even harder to move around up by the mast. Since there are no reef holes, reefing is no problem (ie we gut it out till we're safe). john john