mainsails - fully battened or not?

[KenF]

One thing I would add if changing to FB - if you have a backstay check the clearance for the mainsail roach. For instance I need a backstay 'flicker', to ensure the backstay clears the FB roach esp in lighter winds. Without FB main it is no problem on my Omega 34.

 

[geem]

It's all about...weight.

Better eat some spinach then?

 

[capnsensible]

Better eat some spinach then?

Electric halyard winch.

 

[geem]

Electric halyard winch.

Na, trying to keep fit. Use it or lose it?

 

[Birdseye]

Your local IRC boats are using fully battened mains....? I find that surprising.
.

Fair point. Its a lazy assumption on my part that they have FB mains since their mains rattle up and down the m,ast in a way totally alien to my old boat a Starlight 35. No amount of PTFE lubricant made much difference.

The IRC fleet is mainly boats l;ike J109, various Firsts, Jeanneau Sunfast, a Corby etc.

 

[flaming]

Fair point. Its a lazy assumption on my part that they have FB mains since their mains rattle up and down the m,ast in a way totally alien to my old boat a Starlight 35. No amount of PTFE lubricant made much difference.

The IRC fleet is mainly boats l;ike J109, various Firsts, Jeanneau Sunfast, a Corby etc.

Almost certainly bolt rope mains.

Best performance, but pita to handle.

 

[westhinder]

Fair point. Its a lazy assumption on my part that they have FB mains since their mains rattle up and down the m,ast in a way totally alien to my old boat a Starlight 35. No amount of PTFE lubricant made much difference.

The IRC fleet is mainly boats l;ike J109, various Firsts, Jeanneau Sunfast, a Corby etc.

If it is any reference, on my Starlight 39 I hoist my FB main by hand, except for the last meter, which I do on the winch. Dropping the sail we have to control the halyard to enable someone to make a neat stow in the lazyjacks, otherwise it rattles down too fast. I’m not a bodybuilder, far from it, you simply have to know how to make the best use of your power. Guests rarely get the main higher than halfway up by hand

 

[DJE]

If it is any reference, on my Starlight 39 I hoist my FB main by hand, except for the last meter, which I do on the winch. Dropping the sail we have to control the halyard to enable someone to make a neat stow in the lazyjacks, otherwise it rattles down too fast. I’m not a bodybuilder, far from it, you simply have to know how to make the best use of your power. Guests rarely get the main higher than halfway up by hand

Ours is 33 square metres with 3/4 length battens. It is Vectron and fairly heavy - I can just about lift and carry it on my own. I find the easiest way to hoist is to go forward and pull down on the halyard where it exits the mast while the helmsperson tails through the clutch on the coachroof. This way I can quickly get it to the top and come back to tension it from the cockpit.

 

[Bobc]

I'm a bit confused Birdy, on here you're asking about racing mains, but on another thread you're asking about bilge keelers.

 

[geem]

Ours is 33 square metres with 3/4 length battens. It is Vectron and fairly heavy - I can just about lift and carry it on my own. I find the easiest way to hoist is to go forward and pull down on the halyard where it exits the mast while the helmsperson tails through the clutch on the coachroof. This way I can quickly get it to the top and come back to tension it from the cockpit.

Ours is 35m2 full battened and heavy 10oz Vectran. We don't have lines lead back to the cockpit. I can hoist pretty well to the top and just winch for the last bit of tension. The wife get the sail about 3/4of the way up before winching. The lack of friction in our system makes a big difference

 

[SaltyC]

I am a bit surprised to read of the comments that a FB main is much heaver? I suppose it does depend on the size of the boat and hence the sail and the type of cars. But when I switched to a FB main a few years ago the weight gain was negligible, a few ounces for the extra length of the battens and extra sailcloth for the longer pockets. Anyway could still hoist the main by hand and sail shape and performance was superior. I am just a cruiser.

I too found the FB easier to raise / drop and reef. The sail shape brilliant and powered up well. Used for cruising and (novice?) club racing, never needed to depower, if overpowered reef.
No problem fitting sail and battens single handed, now have in mast furling - tge 13m long first vertical battens is a 'challenge.