I am thinking of purchasing a main sail and would like to know somethings about a loose foot mainsail. Thanks
LOOSE FOOT MAIN
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Magazine article
Due to a faulty memory and the fact that I'm a thousand miles away from my magazines right now, I cannot remember for sure, but one of the last couple of issues of "Cruising World" or "Sail" magazine had an article on the subject of loose footed mains. The gist of the article was that with the sail technology of the day, one can get better performance out of a loose footed main than from a sail with a fully attached foot. Presumably this is because one has a little more control over the shape of the foot as it is not constrained by the boom.
Due to a faulty memory and the fact that I'm a thousand miles away from my magazines right now, I cannot remember for sure, but one of the last couple of issues of "Cruising World" or "Sail" magazine had an article on the subject of loose footed mains. The gist of the article was that with the sail technology of the day, one can get better performance out of a loose footed main than from a sail with a fully attached foot. Presumably this is because one has a little more control over the shape of the foot as it is not constrained by the boom.
Doesn't anybody bother to check the archives here?
Type in "loose footed mainsail" and see what comes up. This is a tremendous sailor's assistant - more people should give it a try.
Type in "loose footed mainsail" and see what comes up. This is a tremendous sailor's assistant - more people should give it a try.
I would ask the sail maker all of my questions.
If he is making the sail I expect that he will know the benefits and deficits of all of the aspects of this method. Mostly what you get her is opinion and occassionally a whole bunch of good experience.
If he is making the sail I expect that he will know the benefits and deficits of all of the aspects of this method. Mostly what you get her is opinion and occassionally a whole bunch of good experience.
Simple answers .....
Loose foot: Better adjustability of the "amount of 'draft'" in the lower sections of the sail. You can over-tension a loose foot's outhaul and radically flatten (draft reduction) the bottom sections .... In contrast, you needed a flattening reef to do that on a shelf footed sail. For downwind you can radically loosen the outhaul so the loose footed sail develops 'extra'-maximum draft .... in contrast, the shelf footed sail can only 'relax' along the foot by a few %, especially if the foot boltrope (without slugs) is IN the groove. Summary, more 'adjustability' as you can radically 'flatten' and alternately radically 'bag-out' a loose footed sail. An analogy ...... If a shelf footed sail has only 2 forward gears, like a car with a 2 speed trans. - Low and High gear; then, a loose footed could be described as 4 forward gears .... extra low, first gear, second gear, and overdrive. FLAT for speed and 'light winds' (& high winds), ..... MAX full draft for 'power' (punching into that famous LIS chop). Shelf footed mainsails have been virtually 'obsolete' for about 20 years. ;-) BTW - when you get your shelf footed sail also get a loooong teflon coated slug to 'ride' in the sail groove of the boom - keeps the clew close to the boom when the outhaul is radically 'relaxed'. If possible run the outhaul control at 5:1 or 6:1 all the way back to the cockpit.
Loose foot: Better adjustability of the "amount of 'draft'" in the lower sections of the sail. You can over-tension a loose foot's outhaul and radically flatten (draft reduction) the bottom sections .... In contrast, you needed a flattening reef to do that on a shelf footed sail. For downwind you can radically loosen the outhaul so the loose footed sail develops 'extra'-maximum draft .... in contrast, the shelf footed sail can only 'relax' along the foot by a few %, especially if the foot boltrope (without slugs) is IN the groove. Summary, more 'adjustability' as you can radically 'flatten' and alternately radically 'bag-out' a loose footed sail. An analogy ...... If a shelf footed sail has only 2 forward gears, like a car with a 2 speed trans. - Low and High gear; then, a loose footed could be described as 4 forward gears .... extra low, first gear, second gear, and overdrive. FLAT for speed and 'light winds' (& high winds), ..... MAX full draft for 'power' (punching into that famous LIS chop). Shelf footed mainsails have been virtually 'obsolete' for about 20 years. ;-) BTW - when you get your shelf footed sail also get a loooong teflon coated slug to 'ride' in the sail groove of the boom - keeps the clew close to the boom when the outhaul is radically 'relaxed'. If possible run the outhaul control at 5:1 or 6:1 all the way back to the cockpit.
I personally believe
that choice between a loose-footed and a shelf-footed main is one of esthetics, that is, what you happen to prefer in terms of looks. Sure, a loose-footed main is easier to bend on or off, but how often do you do that? Virtually every non-racing sailor that I sail with, some of which have loose-footed mains, others (like me)have shelf-footed mains, just about never adjust the outhaul. On the few occasions that they do, it's usually time to turn on the iron genny anyhow. The outhaul is a set it and forget it item to most day sailors and cruisers. I also think that I could make just about any of the sail trim arrangements with my shelf-footed main, if I chose to, that one could make with a loose-footed main. I've been sailing with shelf-footed mains all my life and happen to like them. I also agree that most all new mains are being made loose-footed. When I bought my new shelf-footed main for my boat a few years ago, the guy I dealt with at North Sails confirmed my feelings that there really are very small performance differences between the two varieties. But he also confirmed that a loose-footed main is less expensive to make labor-wise, sells for the same amount as a shelf-footed main, and so the profit margin is slightly larger...
that choice between a loose-footed and a shelf-footed main is one of esthetics, that is, what you happen to prefer in terms of looks. Sure, a loose-footed main is easier to bend on or off, but how often do you do that? Virtually every non-racing sailor that I sail with, some of which have loose-footed mains, others (like me)have shelf-footed mains, just about never adjust the outhaul. On the few occasions that they do, it's usually time to turn on the iron genny anyhow. The outhaul is a set it and forget it item to most day sailors and cruisers. I also think that I could make just about any of the sail trim arrangements with my shelf-footed main, if I chose to, that one could make with a loose-footed main. I've been sailing with shelf-footed mains all my life and happen to like them. I also agree that most all new mains are being made loose-footed. When I bought my new shelf-footed main for my boat a few years ago, the guy I dealt with at North Sails confirmed my feelings that there really are very small performance differences between the two varieties. But he also confirmed that a loose-footed main is less expensive to make labor-wise, sells for the same amount as a shelf-footed main, and so the profit margin is slightly larger...
just changed to loose footed
I have just ordered a new laminated main (Pentex Dacron sandwich)for my 2004 H33 in order to be a bit more competitive in this years Hamilton Island Race Week. The sail maker recommended loose footed as it gives you more options and he reckons it will improve upwind performance.
I have just ordered a new laminated main (Pentex Dacron sandwich)for my 2004 H33 in order to be a bit more competitive in this years Hamilton Island Race Week. The sail maker recommended loose footed as it gives you more options and he reckons it will improve upwind performance.
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