Woven Dacron Mainsail

[Don Guillette]

I received the following Email shown below from a forum lister who sails a C25 concerning a woven dacron mainsail. I told him that I didn't know anything about that sail but that I knew a few people that did - one is RichH. I referred him to Rich's thread. He sent me another email stating "he's careful during the raising process so that the outhaul, mainsheet and vang are slack enough to prevent tension on the leech as the sail is winched up and once he trims up using the SAIL TRIM CHART the shape looks fine without a bolt rope".

First email:
Hi Don, In your sail trim web site there is a thread on How to Properly Raise a Woven Dacron Mainsail. The thread mentions a mainsail with a bolt rope along the luff. My mainsail does not have a bolt rope along the luff. It has what looks like two layers of lengthwise folded sail tape sewn to the mainsail luff. Included are about 18 small pressed metal eyelets which plastic shackles are attached. Then attached to the plastic shackles are plastic slides (3/8" diameter) which go into the mast track. Would the same raising a woven dacron mainsail information apply. Or is there another procedure I should follow for my particular mainsail. Thanks, Chuck

RichH, can you help our C25 shipmate out? His woven mainsail doesn't seem to be the same kind you were talking about.

 

[RichH]

Nope, he's got a "taped-luff" sail, not a 'boltroped' sail. There is no 'preload' in a taped-luff sail that needs to be stretched-out when raising.

However, the positioning of the point of maximum draft to achieve 'best' helm balance is done the same way ... by halyard and/or cunningham tension.

 

[Don Guillette]

RichH: Thanks for the quick response, which I've past on to the lister. I've advised him that if he has any further questions to post them here.

To all you "lurkers" out there in sail trim land - don't be bashful. See how easy it is to ask a question and get an answer!! Why fret about some sail trim question you've been wondering about. just fire away. These guys are more than willing to help you out. A lot of you send your questions to me by Email or phone but I don't know all the answers and I have to go to the forum for help just as I had to do with Chucks question.