...A question for you, seeing as I would like to try before I buy! Would 1st reef kind of mimic the qualities of the smaller main sail? Or, would I need to go to second reef to get a similer feel to the boat handling?...
Hi David,
sizewise the smaller main I recommend is the size of the present standard main with the first reef in. Sailingwise, you can try it out a bit sailing around with a reefed main, but a smaller cut main will perform better than the reefed main, and with the reefed main you will not experience the huge advantage in handleability you will get from the shorter spars. There liese the biggest advantage IMHO.
..... I suffer with quite bad weather helm from f4 and above - caused I believe by the carbon gaff spar bending aft and leeward thereby increasing the mast rake causing the leach to sag and flutter.
My question to you is did you have your existing main cut back or have a newer smaller one made? Who was your sailmaker as obviously he would know the new dimensions - is there any alteration you would make in light of your experiences with the smaller main?
I wonder if you have had any feedback on this idea from Matt?
You said you made up a new boom in pine, but did you cut down the existing carbon spar or again did you have one made up? I think if I went down that route I would try and source a stiffer carbon spar or even make up a wood one.
Bearing in mind the cost implications against just putting a reef in ..
Your thoughts would be appreciated - sorry for so many questions!
Hi Andy,
I today think the huge weather helm above F4 has nothing to do with the gaff,ials it's the mast standing to far aft.
With the shorter gaff all gaff bending is done with anyway.
For the smaller main I had an original older main cut down to smaller size.
For the shorter spars I made new ones, which is cheap as you can use cheaper shorter smaller cross section profile materials. Amazing, the cheapest windsurfer mast material will do as the gaff is much shorter.
No feedback to this from Matt, yet.
Costs, like I said to David above, sailing around with a reefed main gives you a taste, but does not near give you the full benefits you will gain from a cut down main and cut shorter spars.
I give you my word, you will be positively delighted by the smaller main, and will probably not ever again want to go back to the bigger main.