My sailmaker is suggesting I go with a loose footed mainsail instead of the standard cut for my Catalina 36... does anyone have any experience with loose footed mains on larger boats? What are the pros and cons of such an arrangement? Other than dinghy sailing, I've never sailed with a loose footed main. Thanks in advance for any insight... Trevor
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GERRY HULL
LESS IS LESS
LESS SAIL EQUALS LESS SPEED. lOOSE FOOT LEAVES A BIG GAP FOR AIR TO ESCAPE. SHAPE IS HARDER TO CONTROL , ESPECIALLY FOR CLOSE WINDWARD WORK [WHICH IS WHERE THE WIND ALWAYS SEEM TO COME FROM] lOOSE FOOT AND REDUCED ROACH ARE THE TWIN SHORTCOMINGS OF FURLING MASTS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SAIL WHEN YOU DROP IT ? ASK YOUR SAILMAKER WHAY HE THINKS THIS IS A GOOD THING. HE ISN'T RACING AGAINST YOU IS HE ? LIKE TO HEAR HIS RATIONALE!
LESS SAIL EQUALS LESS SPEED. lOOSE FOOT LEAVES A BIG GAP FOR AIR TO ESCAPE. SHAPE IS HARDER TO CONTROL , ESPECIALLY FOR CLOSE WINDWARD WORK [WHICH IS WHERE THE WIND ALWAYS SEEM TO COME FROM] lOOSE FOOT AND REDUCED ROACH ARE THE TWIN SHORTCOMINGS OF FURLING MASTS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SAIL WHEN YOU DROP IT ? ASK YOUR SAILMAKER WHAY HE THINKS THIS IS A GOOD THING. HE ISN'T RACING AGAINST YOU IS HE ? LIKE TO HEAR HIS RATIONALE!
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Bob Rutland
Faster?
I don't know much about a loose footed mainsails either. I do know they must perform better, because using one will change your PHRF rating. Bob
I don't know much about a loose footed mainsails either. I do know they must perform better, because using one will change your PHRF rating. Bob
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Jon W.
Fast and Loose
We had a Sobstad Genisis loose-footed main on our C25 and it was great. The foot was cut in a curved shape that hung down several inches below the boom when the outhaul was eased in light air. This gave you maybe a little extra sail area, plus the foot could take a powerful shape, unimpeded by the boom. As the wind strength increased, the outhaul could pull the foot in tight and flat along the boom so it functioned more like a regular sail with no gap along the boom. Kind of like when you put in a reef. There were no adverse aspects of this sail. It handled just like a normally footed sail I don't think it's a really big deal either way you go. A loose footed sail functions more like the common types than not. You might want to make sure your outhaul is setup to be user friendly, with good leverage if you go with the loose fit (of course that goes for any mainsail). We usually didn't adjust ours that often in normal conditions. Mostly for the upper and lower wind ranges, which is not that much different than the more common type foot.
We had a Sobstad Genisis loose-footed main on our C25 and it was great. The foot was cut in a curved shape that hung down several inches below the boom when the outhaul was eased in light air. This gave you maybe a little extra sail area, plus the foot could take a powerful shape, unimpeded by the boom. As the wind strength increased, the outhaul could pull the foot in tight and flat along the boom so it functioned more like a regular sail with no gap along the boom. Kind of like when you put in a reef. There were no adverse aspects of this sail. It handled just like a normally footed sail I don't think it's a really big deal either way you go. A loose footed sail functions more like the common types than not. You might want to make sure your outhaul is setup to be user friendly, with good leverage if you go with the loose fit (of course that goes for any mainsail). We usually didn't adjust ours that often in normal conditions. Mostly for the upper and lower wind ranges, which is not that much different than the more common type foot.
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Joe
I like it....
... I prefer the loose-footed main for the reasons given by Jon W. I have not noticed any more difficulty in flaking the sail. The sail is very responsive to adjustments. I don't agree with GERRY HULL. Maybe he hasn't used one yet.
... I prefer the loose-footed main for the reasons given by Jon W. I have not noticed any more difficulty in flaking the sail. The sail is very responsive to adjustments. I don't agree with GERRY HULL. Maybe he hasn't used one yet.
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steven f.
love the loose foot
I recently purchased a new loose footed main after blowing up my OLD main. I was skeptical at first but now that it is on the boat and I've been using it I feel it is GREAT!! It actually has more sail area with much better control over the sail shape. I'm not a sail maker, just a coastal cruiser but I've noticed a huge differance in performance, the loose footed main giving better results. I point higher, have better control in heavy/light air. I also went to a fully battened main which I didn't have before. Like someone else wrote before in this forum, I used to just set the main and forget it, I rarly trimmed the outhaul. With a loose foot I trim the outhaul whenever the wind changes, it makes a differance. Good luck on your decision, either way you cant go wrong, you'll have a new main and that alone will help everything but your bank account.
I recently purchased a new loose footed main after blowing up my OLD main. I was skeptical at first but now that it is on the boat and I've been using it I feel it is GREAT!! It actually has more sail area with much better control over the sail shape. I'm not a sail maker, just a coastal cruiser but I've noticed a huge differance in performance, the loose footed main giving better results. I point higher, have better control in heavy/light air. I also went to a fully battened main which I didn't have before. Like someone else wrote before in this forum, I used to just set the main and forget it, I rarly trimmed the outhaul. With a loose foot I trim the outhaul whenever the wind changes, it makes a differance. Good luck on your decision, either way you cant go wrong, you'll have a new main and that alone will help everything but your bank account.
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Ken Palmer
Loose foot is the way to go
You have much more control of sail shape with a loose foot. In high winds, flatten it out. In medium winds, loosen it up. In very low winds, I have read that you should flatten it out (I haven't tried that yet). I truly believe that I have more boat speed by ajusting the out-haul. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
You have much more control of sail shape with a loose foot. In high winds, flatten it out. In medium winds, loosen it up. In very low winds, I have read that you should flatten it out (I haven't tried that yet). I truly believe that I have more boat speed by ajusting the out-haul. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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David Foster
Happy with mine
The new main on our hunter 27 is a loose-footed sail with 2 full, and 2 partial battens, and a larger roach. The combined effect is tremendous (+ 1-1.5 knots with 5 degrees less heel.) Shape adjustment works well, and no problems flaking the sail. Mostly, our sailmaker (from Doyle) was quite convincing that this is the way to go. He's the expert, not me.
The new main on our hunter 27 is a loose-footed sail with 2 full, and 2 partial battens, and a larger roach. The combined effect is tremendous (+ 1-1.5 knots with 5 degrees less heel.) Shape adjustment works well, and no problems flaking the sail. Mostly, our sailmaker (from Doyle) was quite convincing that this is the way to go. He's the expert, not me.
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Ed Schenck
Improves performance.
North Sails recommended a loose foot on my new H37C main. I wonder how much that has to do with my shoal draft pointing higher than it is supposed to?
North Sails recommended a loose foot on my new H37C main. I wonder how much that has to do with my shoal draft pointing higher than it is supposed to?
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Tim Schaaf
Misunderstanding?
Could Gerry have been thinking "loose-footed" as in an in-mast furling system? He did mention less roach. My loose-footed Sobstad has a curved foot that has a roach under the boom for more areal.Works fine. It also has full battens and allows me to heave-to under main alone. I had read about this but didn't really think it was possible until my experience with this main. The only negative is that, with the loose foot I haven't found a way to catch rain water in the main......oh well, that is why they make watermakers!!!
Could Gerry have been thinking "loose-footed" as in an in-mast furling system? He did mention less roach. My loose-footed Sobstad has a curved foot that has a roach under the boom for more areal.Works fine. It also has full battens and allows me to heave-to under main alone. I had read about this but didn't really think it was possible until my experience with this main. The only negative is that, with the loose foot I haven't found a way to catch rain water in the main......oh well, that is why they make watermakers!!!
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Ron Barrow
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Darrel Richards
Loose Footed
We sailed last week in the SORC Regatta in Miami Beach, happened to be on the same course with IMS boats Esmeralda, Idler and so on, Melges 24's PHRF (Chessie Racing), and everything else from J boats to Beneteau's 99% all had Loose footed mains. Can so many be wrong?
We sailed last week in the SORC Regatta in Miami Beach, happened to be on the same course with IMS boats Esmeralda, Idler and so on, Melges 24's PHRF (Chessie Racing), and everything else from J boats to Beneteau's 99% all had Loose footed mains. Can so many be wrong?
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Johnny Hughes
I switched
About two years ago I had my old main recut to loose footed on my hunter 40 and noticed a dramatic change in speed and pointing all for the better. I am now having a new main made, also loose footed.
About two years ago I had my old main recut to loose footed on my hunter 40 and noticed a dramatic change in speed and pointing all for the better. I am now having a new main made, also loose footed.
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