What is the optimum sail shape going up wind? I noticed today that the head of my main was pretty open when going up wind. The boat had alot of power in it going upwind as well is this normal?
I know that this is only a snap shot in time but my humble opinion is that your outhaul is too loose as is your main sheet.
Looking at the wind in the photo you could easily have the sail pulled to the centre line if you're going up wind.
I would have the foot of the main about and inch from the boom, with enough downhaul to open the leech.
I'd also be staying off trap trying to get the windward hull out of the water, reducing drag by half.
If you get a chance, while your boat is on the beach in light or no wind, have the outhaul set as above and pull the sail on. Once the sail is on stand behind the boat and see what happens to your sail shape while you pull and release your downhaul. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> You should find downhaul is far more important than outhaul on our boats.
This is what I do, someone who wins championships may be better suited to answer your query. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Guess it is hard to guess where to start when you have not many others to work off of. I agree with Col and his comments, but outhaul tension changes with sailmakers, up to about 6" of depth (measured from the boom at the deepest part). Main sheet needs to be lots and lots tighter to stand the leech up and give you the power it needs...this might be a work in progress for awhile.
I can make you an offer tho'...I will be in NSW for the next 4 months and am happy to help you sort it out...maybe the many years in the class might make it easier.
looks like the outhaul is a bit to loose, generaly would only bag the foot that much going downwind. The amount of fulness you do put in with the foot varies from sail to sail. Best idea isto look on the beach as described and alter outhaul to see what effect it has up the sail, some have very little effect, which means it doesn't hurt to let them out a bit, but if it is having an effect half way up the sail, be careful how much you let it out. Try to feel for the boat feeling like it is dragging sideways, if you can feel this you need to flatten the foot. Some sails hardly need letting out at all.
At the same time in wind pictured struggling to trap I would have minimum downhaul, even wrinkles up the luff, so that twist is minimal and as described main sheeted hard and stay off trap until you have to.
Hope this helps but you realy have to sort each boat for how it feels.
Hi all This was the first time with this sail and I noticed that It was producing more power with a loose foot like the picture and not much with a tighter foot.
In the pic the boat was actually just skimming the water while out on trap he must of taken the pic when I was trying to bear away a touch. I think I might spend a few hours on the beach and try to setup and mark the main sheet. I wont be using this sail again as it was to much trouble with too small a bolt rope in it. Saving up some $$$$$$ to hopefully get a new main before the start of the season. Any ideas on a good sail maker for the mossie. The two sails I have are both clifton sails.
The U.K Halsey sails seem to work <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Great to see you out on the water again so soon. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Looked like you had insufficient outhaul and your mast wasn't rotated enough to match the sail. Maybe if the outhaul was on more then the mast rotation may have been OK.
In my humble opinion other good Mosquito sailmakers that you should look at are Glenn Ashby, Greg Goodall and Lindsay Irwin.
I think the UK Halsey sails are great. At $ 1300 delivered with battens you can not go too far wrong. The sailmaker will cut the sail to match your mast bend. Contact me on ph: 0416 299 602 for more info.
You need to be carefull not to use too much foot to power up as this can make the sail too tight in the leech. Sails need to be able to breath in small gusts. Remember that lifting the hull out does not always mean that your are going as fast as you can in the conditions.
Had a look at the sail on Top Gun and it looks very nice. Also considering the uk sail but heard they dont last to long. William nswmossie.com 1635 JiVe 1691
I don't know who told you the UK sails don't last long. Every Mossie sail they have made so far is still competitive. The sail I used in the nationals did the same amount of sailing the average person would do in 2 seasons. The sails can be made to last longer by using different material if that is what is required.
What I do to measure mast bend is: First you will need: 1 tape measure long enough to go the length of the luff (or you can mark the mast with texta or pencil every 500mm starting from the top black band. 1 tape measure or ruler up to 300 mm in length. 1 string line long enough to go from the top black band to the bottom black band. 1 note pad and pen or pencil. 1 helper makes taking down the numbers easy.
Rig the boat as usual with normal rig tension etc.. Tip the boat on the side and rest the mast on something around the hound height.
Adjust mast rotation so that mast is as fore and aft as possible.
Scary bit number 1: Pull luff tension on as hard as you can. Scary bit number 2: Pull mainsheet on as hard as you can. Scary bit number 3: Repeat the previous 2 steps.
Your sail should look as flat as a board.
Next either mark the mast every 500mm starting from the top black band or run the long tape between the black bands.
Then run the string line so that it is tight from the back of the track black band to black band.
Then using the ruler or second tape measure measure the distance from the back of the track to the string line at all of the 500mm points. 0 should be the first number. You should be getting around 250mm as a maximum give or take 10mm. After you have all of these measurements you are ready to talk to the sail maker.
I hope this is a good enough explanation. If not keep firing the questions.
Just so that it clear, I do get helped out by UK Halsey sailmakers. I do not get free sails, just a discount. One of the reasons I use UK is that he is very keen to get feedback on his sails so they can be improved. He also has a great knowledge of the materials available and uses computer cutting equipment for consistent results. I think that the other sailmakers mentioned are pretty good also.
I will dig out some pictures of mast bend if I can find them.
Number one question I am asked about my UK sail is how long it will last. If you roll the sail around a tube as it comes down the mast the sail rarely touches the tramp and it doesn't wear at all, only the UV will kill it and that is the same for all sails.
