Don, I have a 1992 H28 and the bottom of the main sail slides into the boom which keeps it very straight. I was looking at pictures of other sailboats and some of them have "loose footed" mains where the sail attaches at the two ends of the boom and rest of the sail is free to flex out and create a nice curve. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches? Thanks.
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Loose foot vs bolt rope
Steve: I don't think there is any difference between the two systems. I've matched raced (2 equal boats) with both systems and neither had an advantage. I've watched the Congressional Cup boats in Long Beach go head to head with a couple of the boats having the loose foot system and neither had any advantage. Only about 3 out of 12 of the Congressional boats were loose footed and if there was any real advantage to loose footed they all would be that way. I prefer the bolt rope system only because I'm used to it and I'm too old to change. Some sailors say it is easier to shape a loose footed main but if you have a good functioning bolt rope system you can shape the sail just as well. There is only so much draft depth (belly) you should be putting into a main anyway. With a loose footed system it is very easy to put in too much.
Steve: I don't think there is any difference between the two systems. I've matched raced (2 equal boats) with both systems and neither had an advantage. I've watched the Congressional Cup boats in Long Beach go head to head with a couple of the boats having the loose foot system and neither had any advantage. Only about 3 out of 12 of the Congressional boats were loose footed and if there was any real advantage to loose footed they all would be that way. I prefer the bolt rope system only because I'm used to it and I'm too old to change. Some sailors say it is easier to shape a loose footed main but if you have a good functioning bolt rope system you can shape the sail just as well. There is only so much draft depth (belly) you should be putting into a main anyway. With a loose footed system it is very easy to put in too much.
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