P42 Main sail track slides

[John Faro]

I have a standard full batten mail sail on a 1996 P42. Subsequent to purchase, I had Doyle install a Doyle cradle with lazy jacks. The lazy jacks must be retracted to raise the sail to avoid potential interfernce with the batten pockets on the leach of sail. I am now considering installing the Bainbridge track slides on the main because of the inherent advantage over the conventional sail slides, and more importantly (I believe) is the elimination of the batten pockets on the main leach insofar as the Bainbridge system loads the battens from the luff and attaches the battens directly to the slides. Is my information correct? Will this lessen the interfernece between the battens and the lazy jacks? - JH Faro

 

[Bill Colombo]

Lazy Jacks and Battens Tips

John,Converting to a Luff System such as Bainbridge's Sailman will allow the main to hoist and lower more freely. As far as solving the problem of snagging the lazy jacks on the batten tips they may not be the answer. It is critical to hoist head-to-wind. It is possible that your lazy jacks are set up too tight and not allowing the sail to spread them at the bottom when you zip open the cover. Make sure that the battens themselves are not poking past the leech at all. If they are you can shorten them a bit with a hacksaw and a file. Also you might try moving the lazy jack attachment point down the mast a bit. If you do decide to convert to front-loading pockets the back end of the pocket and possibly the entire pocket should be replaced in such a way that no part of the pocket extends past the leech. Thanks,Bill ColomboDoyle Sailmakers