Loose footed

Having a loose foot allows the foot of the sail to curve rather than to be dead straight as with a bolt rope. This means you can trim the sail's shape much better.

Before I had my loose footed main, I thought the concept rather strange. Then I realised that when a mainsail is reefed, it is in effect loose footed and that seems to work pretty well even in very strong winds.

I can't think of any disadvantages.
 
Advantage is sail shape as said.
Also easier to use outhaul, less resistance.
Allows you to insert a stackpack sail bag in the boom groove for a lazyjack system
Also the water runs off the sail and drops straight to the coachroof, and does not collect and run to the end of the boom/sail to drench the helmsman.
Slightly cheaper sail, no bolt rope to sew on.

Disadvantages, none that I have come across yet.
 
if you dont get many replies here . do a search and you will find a lot of opinions on this subject
 
All that's comforting, just bought one of Kemps "Power Mains" loose footed by their recommendation, wont get to try it until the Spring, also bought the stack bag and lazy jacks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Help! Help! we is running out of Chocolate!!
 
With the amount of money you save on moorings, how is it possible to be running out of chocolate?
Haven't you got an Aldi down your way? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
What's an Aldi?????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif


Help! help! We are saving lots of money on moorings, but we are still running out of Chocolate!!!
 
german Car /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif No nearly right its a german supermarket chain springing up all over UK.

what boat have you got Smiffy? Are you the guy from Instow or am I mixing you up with someone else?
 
Instow!! Instow!! No I am certainly not, I is in Bideford, Westerly Nomad.

Help! help! help! mayday! mayday mayday!!! We are saving lots of money on moorings but now the Welsh are coming across the water! Are they bringing any chocolate?
 
[ QUOTE ]
the Welsh are coming across the water! Are they bringing any chocolate?

[/ QUOTE ] We will eat the last bar before reaching Bideford fairway bouy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

i am thinking of exploring your Estuary next summer.i have been in to Appledore Shipyard with a workboat going for a refit but not had the chance to explore.Any suggestions as to best places to stop overnight with a 22 foot lifting keeler that can dry out in mud or on legs?

555929052fccb9d158c63003885deb55064.jpg
 
Note that you can get full bottomed sails with good shape without them being loose footed too... its just down to the quality of the sail.... I had a hood that had excellent shape in the foot, but also had a bolt rope.... mind you, the panels were quite complicated at the bottom!
 
PM sent, I was reading your blog the other week, seems like you have had some good times with "Vega"? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Disadvantages? Depends on the type of sailing you do.

When racing, the loose footed main can't have a flattener cringle (I don't think) which allows you to remove some of the belly from the main when going hard on the wind.

When voyaging, I've always been able to lift the end of the boom on the topping lift causing an exaggerated belly in the main which quickly gathers huge amounts of fresh water off the front of the sail when it rains.

If you're really serious about sail shape, the foot of the sail in a track always gives me a good indication of how well tensioned the outhaul is whereas with a loose footed main, it's sometimes hard to tell.

Just my personal observations . . .
 
Sorry, I should have been more clear /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif They offer both in loose footed if you want them? and I wondered what you thought about them as sails in that regard, ie. better sail shape etc?
 
Frankly I've never sailed with fully battened sails other than many, many years ago on Hobies and similar. I guess the full battens help with sail shape but the disadvantages of loose footed mains that I mentioned above probably would exist exactly the same, full battens or not.

I've seen some really great loose footed mains. I don't for a moment decry them. Just that they're not ALL good news IMHO.
 
and there was me hoping for a bit of enlightenment! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have just bought one of their loose footed power mains, so I will just have to wait until I get it aloft to see if there is any improvement. There is bound to be some improvement because it is a new sail, but I be interested to see how much and in what way?
 
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