Racing Main on Furling Mast, (beneteau 381)

[TJ Aruffo]

My Beneteau 381 comes standard with a ZSPAR mast, with in mast furling. The in mast furling is great for short handed sailing or family cruising.The Mast also comes with an external full length mainsail track. The track's primary use is for mounting a storm trysail. We have been very active in club racing and even completed the Mac in 2000. It is our intention to add a loose footed full roach racing main, 2 full battens and 2 partial battens with 2 reefs. Mark, et al, do you know anyone who has used the external track and sail configuration?you know of any potential structural issues?How much additional sail area and roach would we give up going to a swing batten main. Why does the Doyle swing batten sail only have 1 batten.Thanks

 

[Mark Ploch]

Racing main

TJ i would not use the track for a racing battened main. It is not designed for the worst of conditions. Dave Curtis has 2 battens in his swing main. We can put in as many as you want to fool with. I can email you a picture of his sail if you like. The most roach will be with a full batten, but this willnot work well with the internal groove. Go with long battens oe the swing 2 batten main. I off to Key west this next week but I will get you some areas when I get back if you like. Bill will be answering the forum this next week. Thanks Mark