Mainsail without battens or roach

Cockaigne

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28 Apr 2018
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In his book "Self-Sufficient Sailor", Larry Pardney, whose vast cruising experience gives him some authority, advocates having a bermudan mainsail made without battens or headboard. The advantages he claims are no battens or headboard to catch on lazy jacks or shrouds, enabling the sail to be reefed or unreefed on any point of sailing . The disadvantages being a small loss of sail area and the possibility of leach flutter as the sailcloth ages. Eric Hiscock also preferred mainsails without battens.

Has anyone here had such a sail made and was it a success?
 
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