In mast-v-slab reefing

[BrianH]

I'm sitting in Italy looking at my new mainsail on a newly-installed Profurl in-boom reefing system. For a retro-fit I decided it was the best way to go for my single-handed sailing in a area where strong winds can blow up very suddenly. Price was more than competitive with an in-mast system, which I considered.

The sail sets well and with four full-length battens has more roach than my original sail.

One slight niggle: the furled sail is a tad too snug in the rounded boom shell; no space to spare at all, if random rolling stacks one batten directly over another.

It looks and works fine in the marina but other work prevents me getting to sea and trying it out seriously, so I am reserving judgment, but so far no regrets.

 

[flaming]

Believe it or not, I have done an awful lot more cruising than racing, so I do understand the cruising mentality.
But you seem to be arguing that the performance of an in-mast setup can be as good as a slab reef setup.

Well no it can't. In light winds the loss of area hurts your speed. The adjustable outhall is a nil point, as conventional rigs have them too! As the wind builds the conventional sailor has tools such as backstay, Cunningham and halyard tension to be able to avoid reefing for longer. Oh, and he also has a lighter mast.
And then when reefer the conventional sailor still has the draft of the sail right where the sailmaker intended it to be, in contrast to the bagginess often found in the in mast mains.

Argue the case for in-mast on convinience grounds, because that's what it's for, but please stop trying to convince people that a well sailed conventional sistership wouldn't walk away from her in-mast compatriot.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Legend or American Hunters:

I notice that loads of these boats have in mast furling, which completely destroys the concept of the back stayless rig and large roached mains. I presume that this form of rig also comes with an enormous increase in compression loads to the hull.

Not my choice of boat - but for others.....

 

[Iota]

Have you sailed a boat with the Hood Vertec system, inmast with vertical battens , cloth vecram. You might get a suprise. Close to the conventional sail performance.

I sailed the same model of boat with both and was suprised at how good the Hood sail was.

 

[Pete7]

[ QUOTE ]
In light winds the loss of area hurts your speed. The adjustable outhall is a nil point, as conventional rigs have them too! As the wind builds the conventional sailor has tools such as backstay, Cunningham and halyard tension to be able to avoid reefing for longer. Oh, and he also has a lighter mast.
And then when reefer the conventional sailor still has the draft of the sail right where the sailmaker intended it to be, in contrast to the bagginess often found in the in mast mains.

Argue the case for in-mast on convinience grounds, because that's what it's for, but please stop trying to convince people that a well sailed conventional sistership wouldn't walk away from her in-mast compatriot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with Mark_H, if speed is the goal - so faster passage times then ditching some of the junk on board would be the first step along with giving the hull a good scrub. The difference of a clean hull and one covered with slime is really noticeable so we put the effort in keeping her clean. Equally I suspect someone playing with the sails on an inmast rig would sail past a yacht just out for a pleasant sail or just learning.

Our M31 with inmast has quite a small main and large masthead Genoa. How much extra sail area could we gain with a slab main and what range of wind strengths could we use that extra area before needing to reef. If the wind is light we now carry a cruising chute. I have crossed the channel at 3 knots in the pouring rain, it was wet horrible dull crossing that just went on and on. SWMBO would be calling for the engine before long. So we want a reasonable passage speed that is easy to achieve.

Your right it is convienence, I wasn't sure when we first got the boat, but having used it for 2 years am now in favour for short handed channel sailing.

Pete