boom-boom

[tonyg]

I have a loose-footed gaffed mainsail. What would be the advantages (or dis) in fitting a boom ? My wife doesn't fancy getting her hair parted, I don't have any, and besides, the rig is high enough(I think) to avoid this.

 

[mikesharp]

The main advantage is the ability to flatten the sail and get closer to the wind, although a gaff rig doesn't do that very well anyway because of the floppy bit at the peak. It also helps to pole out the main downwind but you could do the same by using a long boathook as a kind of snotter.