Catalogues - vertically-battened-mainsail-overview

Catalogue Vertically Battened Mainsail overview

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I njEILPFlYLJE SAILS

With these points in mind we generally recommend lhai both ihc mainsail and genoa be reefed in tandem at the [list shortening oi'sail. This will ensure a balanced helm as the breeze initially builds. Though you may be somewhai underpowered iniiially. as sailors we find it safer lo assume the wind will continue to build and it is alw ays more prudent to reef earlier than later. Should the wind decrease, increasing the sail area is easily accomplished h\ deploying the genoa so it can be full sized again.

Assuming the hreeze continues lo build into the iwenties. it is important to have a sense of how much weather helm you have. If yon litul y onrsel f I ighiinc h ■ keep the hoi*, down (the boat continually wanting 10 come up hard inio die winil) ihen you need to reduce i lie mainsail area by furling the mainsail into the mast. This will esiablish the balance back lo ihc helm and also decrease the total net area, making the boat more upright and comfortable. Note the following:

Furling mainsails offer the user infinite reefing positions as compared to fixed reefing points found on traditional mainsails. The only exception it) ibis is that when reefed the sail should nol be reefed with a batten partially in or out of the ir points should be on either side of a batten for best results.

Typically reeling Ihc mainsail so llial the uppermost batten is just behind the mast will reduce ihc area ofihe mainsail by 30-35%. reefing 10 ihe second highest batten will reduce the area by 65-75%. (this compares to 25 and 45% the Classic mainsails)

Given this reduction, we recommend a starling place for the first reef to be about three i|iiarters of (he way lo the uppermost ballcn and the second reef half way between the uppermost ami second batten. These of course will be variable as outlined in the paragraphs above.

Upwind Trim:

1. We have found that upwind in up to about 8-knots true wind the traveler Ihe uiani.ail can be brougiil low catiier o fecnterhne. fin. ensures llial the

boom will be ccntcrlinc at the aft end.

2. Mainshect [ension shook: be light enough in have ihc uppermost tell tail ■ the leech streaming ali aboui 50% of die time in this 7-12 true wind range. You will find that the upper tell tail will stall and fold over to the weather side of the sail about 50% of the time. If il is folding over lo leeward, the mainsheci tension is too loose.

3. With the mainshect tension set. the boom vang should be snuj; this point.

4. In over 12 knots, the upper tell lail should be llowing almost a the time.

5. As the wind builds above the I 2-knol range you will need to d power the boat to keep her on her lines and to reduce weather helm. Let the traveler down in 3" increments until the boat

balances. If the action of lowering the traveler lo balance the heh

Suggested Reef Locations

causes the mainsail to back wind, litis means il is time lo furl Ihe