mainsail extending past backstay?

[RECESS]

I bought a mainsail that has the same foot and luff of the O'Day 25 but the leech extends at least 12" past the backstay. It has 4 full battens. I have spent a few sleepless nights reading about peoples experiences on many sites that have mainsails that extend past the backstay. From what I read if it will pass after hitting the backstay, it will not damage the backstay. I have been sailing it reefed as the area that extends is the top 1/4 of the leech. Reefing brings it down enough to pass without touching the backstay. I was thinking of getting it recut, but do not want to miss any days while I am on summer break and into the fall. I have read of people having sails that extend 22" and still using them and the only real challenge is a jibe.

What say ye?

 

[Banooma]

Sounds like a huge sail. If it's 12" beyond the backstay, I'm wondering how the battens ever get past the topping lift?! Check this out: http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=717751

 

[RECESS]

My overlap looks much the same as Rich's does in that picture. I will have it cut in the winter. I read last night and other nights that it is not uncommon for this to happen for racers.

 

[sailingdog]

Roachy main sails like that are very common among higher performance monohulls and many multihulls. I'd point out that jibing the sail is usually less of an issue than tacking it, since the wind will be pushing it forward and help it get around the backstay. In really light winds, easing the backstay is a good way to help the main get by.

The reason for the additional roach is to make the sail more powerful...

 

[Tribu336]

Are you sure you bought a mainsail that fits your boat? It sounds like you may have bought a sail cut for Hunter. We own a Hunter 336 and it as a roachy main (and no backstay) like most newer Hunters.

 

[RECESS]

It was a sail that was cut for a Freedom 20, a boat used by the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating charity. They have sponsors buy a new sail from UK sails every year with their info on the sail. The foot and luff are the same measurement as an O'Day mainsail. I got it with only one year's use from a sail broker for $230, a used O'Day mainsail with much more years on it was at best $700. I think I will still be far ahead even after I have it recut.

 

[RichH]

A 'roachy' mainsail is a performance mainsail as another poster stated.

To aid in getting such a roach across the backstay make sure that the battens (at the top) dont have a lot of 'compression' but are a wee little bit 'shorter' in the batten pocked than 'normal'.

In light winds (where a 'roachy main' has the biggest problems in crossing the backstay) loosening the VANG just before tacking will help 'slacken' the leech of the roach; ditto on loosening the mainsheet 'just before' the tack.

Spraying the area of the roach that extends beyond the backstay with a 'dry' sail track lubricant (SailKote, etc.) will also help. You can get SailKote HERE on the Sailboatowners 'online store': http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?group=972

 

[RECESS]

Thanks for the SailKote link, I will have to get some!

 

[Alan]

...also add a small roller or length of PVC tubing to the backstay will aid in allowing the sail to drop through. On any boat with swept back spreaders the backstay can be eased completely. I replaced the wire backstay with spectra line and a flicker to lift the backstay clear when the backstay adjuster is eased allowing the full roached main to swing clear of the backstay.

 

[RichH]

The "flicker" is a VERY good way of solving such a problem ....
My big Scow has one especially for when the winds are 'light' and the sail doesnt have enough 'energy' to pass the backstay.

A 'flicker' can be made from a 6ft section of 5/8" FRG batten ... but the boat will need a quick acting backstay adjuster.

 

[Deadline]

As to the original question...

You can continue blissfully for the rest of the season before getting the sail trimmed. Simply make an effort to tack more slowly to let it pass through the backstay with less force. Enjoy.

 

[RECESS]

If I cut the batten short by enough inches to clear the back stay, what is the best way to secure it forward? Drill a hole through the plastic at the luff of the sail the batten feeds into and then a hole through the batten and secure them forward?

 

[RichH]

You can drill a hole in the batten and then sew it in place with a sailmakers needle with heavy waxed sail twine.
But, cutting a batten 'short' (by many inches) from the leech end will cause the roach/leech to flutter/vibrate ... as its the batten that supports the roach !!!

You can 'slightly' shorten the batten so to relieve its 'compression' in the batten pocket, thus making the batten 'more floppy' ... and that will better allow it to pass over the backstay. Battens with less 'compression' will more easily pass across a backstay. However, a batten with little 'compression' will result in a flatter shape of the sail in that section of the sail; so, if you want this 'speed shape', SLIGHTLY cutting the batten length will work. GROSSLY cutting the batten so that it no longer supports the roach nor doesnt touch/support the aft end of the batten pocket will cause the leech/roach to become unsupported and vulnerable to violent shaking. The leech flutter will soon break the leech's stitching and will also severely weaken the sail fabric in this area.

 

[RECESS]

I think I will just see how easily it will pass first. No sense in fixing something until you know what is the extent. I was on the boat this evening, but total doldrums. I just plugged in the AC and relaxed in the v-berth while the wife and kid fished. Later let the kindergartner handle the tiller on some motoring.