Gaff rig Droop

Derek Nixon

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9 May 2020
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Please can someone advise me if it's better to have a larger drop along the foot of my mainsail as opposed to a shorter drop? The yacht is a classic open 16ft clinker-built with wooden spars, the foot of the sail measures 12 ft long with an outhaul. The sailcloth is 6oz polyester and cut parallel to the leach in 17 inch wide panels. The sail plan only stipulates a maximum drop of 12 inches and no minimum. My reason for asking is that the yacht will be raced.
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wilkinsonsails

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4 Jan 2010
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Depending on your sheeting arrangement, greater drop will cause a lot of twist off in the gaff .
Ok if you don’t need to point.Also less heel.
 
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