In the Mast furling

Re: In the Mast furling

80% of all sail repairs are from battens. That is why sailmakers usually tell
you you have to have battens. It's in their economic self interest.
I sailed from BC to New Zealand with a 12 year old mainsail, with battens. Going
down from Raro, a batten pocket tore out completely. I sewed it back in. Then 15
feet of seam tore , starting at a batten pocket. I sewed it back up. In New
Zealand I had a sailmaker eliminate the roach and battens, and sew a full length
tape up the leach. I put another three thousand miles on that mainsail, much of
it to windward in 25 knot gusty trade winds, without popping a stitch.
Now, when I buy a used mainsail, before using it, I eliminate the roach, and
put a full length of sail cloth up the leech.
When people complain about weather helm on the 36, I tell them it is designed
for a roachless main. When they eliminate the roach , she balances perfectly.
I've never had any problem reefing or dousing my roachless and battenless main
in a following wind. There are many times it would have been dangerous to try
round up into the wind.
John Leacher calculates that a roach increases your speed by between zero and
three percent , max. The cruising time wasted, dealing with a torn main is fare
more than that.
-- Brent Swain

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