A Nylon Light Air Mainsail

Discussion in 'Motorsailers' started by brian eiland, Sep 16, 2017.

  1. brian eiland
    Joined: Jun 2002
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    Location: St Augustine Fl, Thailand

    brian eiland Senior Member

    This short article just appeared in SAIL magazine...
    A cruiser turns to an unconventional solution for light-wind voyaging.

    https://www.sailmagazine.com/diy/a-lighter-mainsail


    good article...sure makes sense
     
  2. jorgepease
    Joined: Feb 2012
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    jorgepease Senior Member

    that was a good article!
     
  3. brian eiland
    Joined: Jun 2002
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    Location: St Augustine Fl, Thailand

    brian eiland Senior Member

    And particularly applicable to multihull craft that have lots of trouble keeping shape in there sails in light air situations
     
  4. Phil Faris
    Joined: Sep 2017
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    Location: Spokane, WA

    Phil Faris New Member

    Sailing on a lake with frequent very light wind, I plan on trying this idea for both main and jib/genoa sails. But I have a question about loose foot and loose luff sails in general, as well as the stretchiness of nylon sails. I speculate that running a bolt rope along all three sides of the sail might be helpful. I also speculate that sail shape (cut of the sail pieces) might end up being radically different from conventional sails. (or not) I'm wondering if concave leech and foot edges might help tighten the draft for windward sailing.
     

  5. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    This is interesting BUT we have found a fully battened mainsail will keep it shape wind or no wind.

    A Vang and or fwd preventer keeps the boom from bouncing in swells.

    So the only extra main we carry is a "Swedish main" a loose footed sail in its own track , ready to hoist after a double reefed main is too much sail.

    It has a deep reef for when it too is too much sail.
     
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