When we are sailing close hauled, we trim in the sails and the top of both leeches, Main and Genoa, are flapping uncontrollably. So i moved the Jib cars up towards the bow so the sail would be pulled dowb more vertically, this helped some, I also tightened the leech line and that fixed the jib. The main is where i am having problems. There is a huge pocket, it almost hangs over the boom, however the sail is fully raised, with 1 or 2 turns around a winch and there is still a really baggy part right above the boom towards the mast. I tightened the foot of the sail but i couldnt get it very far. I also tightened the leech line and cupped the sail a bit. Am i doing something wrong if so what should i be doing? How much should i tighten the leech? Happy Sailing!
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Bob
Check the bolt rope
Hi Matt, This is what I think without seeing your boat or sails. Sounds like your sails are beyond end of life - have lost shape since you are having to do pretty drastic things. The huge pocket in the main is due to sail cloth stretch - the bolt rope will be almost the same lengh as when new. You may be able to release the stiches at the foot of the main from the bolt rope, pull the main back - then restich the main back to the bolt rope. This will take out the big pocket but the sail's performance will be about the same. Will look better but to sail better - you will need new sails. Don't waste you money on having sails reconditioned - invest in new. You can take your sail(s) to any loft and they can quickly tell if they are beyond useful life. If that's what they say - don't bother with a second opinion. Good Luck, Bob
Hi Matt, This is what I think without seeing your boat or sails. Sounds like your sails are beyond end of life - have lost shape since you are having to do pretty drastic things. The huge pocket in the main is due to sail cloth stretch - the bolt rope will be almost the same lengh as when new. You may be able to release the stiches at the foot of the main from the bolt rope, pull the main back - then restich the main back to the bolt rope. This will take out the big pocket but the sail's performance will be about the same. Will look better but to sail better - you will need new sails. Don't waste you money on having sails reconditioned - invest in new. You can take your sail(s) to any loft and they can quickly tell if they are beyond useful life. If that's what they say - don't bother with a second opinion. Good Luck, Bob
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Bill O'Donovan
Blown out
Sounds like they need replacement or a facelift. Check with a loft for an estimate on the latter. I got two more seasons' use from strategic tucks done by a competent sailmaker for very little money. On the other hand, Doyle on this website does a great job with new sails. You'll get your top speed back, and then some.
Sounds like they need replacement or a facelift. Check with a loft for an estimate on the latter. I got two more seasons' use from strategic tucks done by a competent sailmaker for very little money. On the other hand, Doyle on this website does a great job with new sails. You'll get your top speed back, and then some.
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Mat
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Matt
Thanks
Hello! I have tried many things, when the main is flying, the topping lift is incredibly loose, it isnt a problem. I still make almost hull speed with ease and the bottom has not been cleaned for almost 4 years (it is being cleaned and repainted in 2 weeks) I am not struggling with speed or any thing for that matter. I was just curious about the sail. In the next few years i am going to be saving up for a new main and possibly some new jibs. My current Sail inventory includes: -60% jib (Great Condition, one of the newest sails i believe) -120 Genoa (Good Condition) -130 genoa (Good Condition) -150 genoa (aged, Good Condition) -Spinnaker (Good Condition) -Main (not sure how old but it has many symptoms of age) I hope you all have good summers on your boats! Happy Sailing!
Hello! I have tried many things, when the main is flying, the topping lift is incredibly loose, it isnt a problem. I still make almost hull speed with ease and the bottom has not been cleaned for almost 4 years (it is being cleaned and repainted in 2 weeks) I am not struggling with speed or any thing for that matter. I was just curious about the sail. In the next few years i am going to be saving up for a new main and possibly some new jibs. My current Sail inventory includes: -60% jib (Great Condition, one of the newest sails i believe) -120 Genoa (Good Condition) -130 genoa (Good Condition) -150 genoa (aged, Good Condition) -Spinnaker (Good Condition) -Main (not sure how old but it has many symptoms of age) I hope you all have good summers on your boats! Happy Sailing!
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Don Guillette
Matt: Bill and Bob have nailed your problem. It appears you are trying to get optimum performance out of your sails and have tried to achieve it with your sail trim controls but to no avail. You probably need a new mainsail.
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jimbo
gooseneck?
Is your boom fixed to your mast or does your gooseneck adjust up and down. If your main halyard is topped, try pulling your boom down with a (downhaul) ,or tighten the luff with a cunningham. Please let us know.
Is your boom fixed to your mast or does your gooseneck adjust up and down. If your main halyard is topped, try pulling your boom down with a (downhaul) ,or tighten the luff with a cunningham. Please let us know.
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Matt
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Tom S
What boat are you sailing?
A couple of more details might help us also. Is it a mast head rig with a full genny (135% 155% ?) What angle are you sailing the boat (are you are 30 deg relative to the wind or 45 etc) But just as a guess, it sounds like its just the way the main is cut -- just a little bit full -- and there is notheing wrong with that, but if you are sailing hard on the wind, it might tend not to have as good a shape as you want. You say you have "a really baggy part right above the boom towards the mast." Do you have a cunningham on your boat? If you do that could really help pull that "baggy part of the main near the mast" right out of the sail. If you don't know what a cunninghan is, just do a google search. A sailmaker could easily rig a cunningham cringle and you don't need an expensive rigging. I just tie a loop of line through to a block at the base of my mast and tie it up tight when I need to tighten the bottom luff of the mainsail down. It really helps the main sail shape when hard on the wind.
A couple of more details might help us also. Is it a mast head rig with a full genny (135% 155% ?) What angle are you sailing the boat (are you are 30 deg relative to the wind or 45 etc) But just as a guess, it sounds like its just the way the main is cut -- just a little bit full -- and there is notheing wrong with that, but if you are sailing hard on the wind, it might tend not to have as good a shape as you want. You say you have "a really baggy part right above the boom towards the mast." Do you have a cunningham on your boat? If you do that could really help pull that "baggy part of the main near the mast" right out of the sail. If you don't know what a cunninghan is, just do a google search. A sailmaker could easily rig a cunningham cringle and you don't need an expensive rigging. I just tie a loop of line through to a block at the base of my mast and tie it up tight when I need to tighten the bottom luff of the mainsail down. It really helps the main sail shape when hard on the wind.
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David Foster
See a sailmaker!
The best way would be to have one visit your boat to evaluate the sails in place. A good sailmaker will give you straight advice on rebuild vs. replace possibilities. If you are lucky enough to have more than one loft in your area, then discuss your problem with each, and ask for prices for a new main at the same time. Pick the one who will really work with you at reasonable prices. Give a call to the Doyle folks at this website - their prices are reasonable, quality excellent, and they may have a way to diagnose your problem at a distance. David Lady Lillie
The best way would be to have one visit your boat to evaluate the sails in place. A good sailmaker will give you straight advice on rebuild vs. replace possibilities. If you are lucky enough to have more than one loft in your area, then discuss your problem with each, and ask for prices for a new main at the same time. Pick the one who will really work with you at reasonable prices. Give a call to the Doyle folks at this website - their prices are reasonable, quality excellent, and they may have a way to diagnose your problem at a distance. David Lady Lillie
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Bayard Gross
Dumb question
As it sounds like your major problem is in the tack area, what is the tack cut away like on your main, if any? Further, is the main tack attached directly to a fitting on the boom or do you use a shackle between it and the main? Offhand to me, it sounds like you have little, if any tack cut away on the main and therefore should attach the main tack cringle directly to its fitting on the boom without a shackle that would soften up this area of the sail. Just a thought on my part, but not something I see expressed earlier.
As it sounds like your major problem is in the tack area, what is the tack cut away like on your main, if any? Further, is the main tack attached directly to a fitting on the boom or do you use a shackle between it and the main? Offhand to me, it sounds like you have little, if any tack cut away on the main and therefore should attach the main tack cringle directly to its fitting on the boom without a shackle that would soften up this area of the sail. Just a thought on my part, but not something I see expressed earlier.
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