What is a loose footed main sail?

Loosefoot: This refers to a mainsail with foot not attached to the boom. The tack and clew secure the lower sail in place, and the foot floats freely. Attached foot: A mainsail with foot secured to the boom by slides, slugs, or boltrope.

What size should reefing lines be?

I’d go with 5/16″ or 3/8″ diameter for the reefing lines, and 1/4″ or 5/16″ for the nettles (reef ties).

What is reefing a mainsail?

The area of the mainsail is reduced by a technique called reefing. This is much easier than changing the sail. Reefing is done by lowering the mainsail, establishing a new tack and clew using control lines, and hoisting the mainsail again with the bottom part no longer exposed to the wind.

Do you have to turn into the wind to Reef?

When to reef? Most boats are designed to require the first reef in around 18 knots apparent wind when sailing to windward. Some lighter, more coastal-orientated boats may struggle in 15 knots while heavier offshore designs will still be happy at 20 knots or more.

How does a sail attach to a boom?

The block is typically attached to the boom by means of a bail, which is a U-shaped piece of metal, flattened at the ends to allow attachment with screws or rivets. In smaller boats such as dinghies it is used to control the angle of the sail to the wind on each point of sail.

What does loose footed?

: having the foot loose : not having or not secured to a boom —used of a sail.

How does slab reefing work?

Slab reefing This is the way that 90% of the fleet will reef their mainsail, and when done correctly it is the simplest and most reliable system. First the luff’s reef point is secured, and then the clew’s reef point is pulled toward the outboard end of the boom until the foot of the sail is nice and flat.

What is single line reefing?

Single line reefing essentially means that the outboard and inboard reef cringles use one line to tuck (or haul down) both ends of the sail. Also if you are noticing that the inboard end is tucking sooner than the outboard end, hanging a block from the OB end only may balance the system out a bit more.

What’s the difference between loose footed and outhaul mainsails?

These days most new mainsails are loose-footed. A loose foot is a much simpler system than the old foot shelf that was attached to the boom along its length. Often the outhaul car has also been eliminated, with the clew of the sail now attached with a Velcro strap that is wrapped around the boom, again a much simpler system.

How do you Reef a sail on a sailboat?

Once the reef tack and clew have been set, there is loose sail that needs to be controlled. Just roll up the sail parallel to the boom and tie it in place with bungee cord. If you use a piece of line or a sail tie, you risk ripping the sail by shaking the reef with the ties still in place.

Can a fixed foot sail be reefed on a racing boat?

If you have a fixed foot, using one long shock cord to secure the sail (standard procedure on many racing boats) will help to prevent unnecessary damage. Once the reef is set and the sail is properly secured you can resume sailing. P.S. Furling mainsails can be reefed too.

When did sailboats start using loose foot mainsails?

It used to be that 90 percent of mainsails seen on board recreational sailboats were constructed with an attached foot. However, that situation started to change during the 1980s after America’s Cup sail designers began experimenting with loose-footed mainsails.