Full-length battens: Hallberg Rassey 312

Full-length battens in mainsails are still one of the top 5 questions I get asked about in discussion about new sails.

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Running backstays: A simple way to stow them

IF your boat has running backstays, chances are you will want to get them out of the way when not using them. If you are actually sailing you will want to get the leeward one secure so it does not bang around.

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Code Zero: Spinnaker with a straight luff

 

For most  sailors using a code Zero, the sail must measure as a spinnaker. If it is to go on  furler, then where does the girth come from? The same place as on a mainsail,  it is mostly all on the leech in the form of roach.

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Code Zero: roller furling or not?

I have previously discussed the issues surrounding Code zero sails using a free luff roller. The issue opens up a whole separate discussion regarding the smooth, consistent and reliable use of the whole system.

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Code Zero: Roller furling considerations

Since we have established that, for most of us, the Code Zero is a sail that must measure as a spinnaker, what are the options for handling the sail?

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Code Zero: Headsail and spinnaker girth issues

One of the (literally) defining issues with the Code zero is that of the mid girth of the sail.

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Code Zero: Spinnaker or Headsail?

If there is one sail that is the object of more misunderstanding it is doing a good job of hiding.

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Full batten sails and “batt-slides”

The aerodynamics of full battens:
The second in a series of articles on the issues surrounding full battens in mainsails. One of the drawbacks of the normal Bermudian triangular mainsail rig is its inefficiency (as a wing) in terms of the top portion of the rig.

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Full batten mainsails for cruising sails

Whether you sail a modest cruising sailboat or a large yacht, having the right rigging will make sailing easier. This article discusses the things you need to consider when thinking about full batten main sails.

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Blue water sails: Offshore sail selection-Mainsails

The mainsail is commonly the most abused and detailed sail in the inventory. It is up in almost all conditions up wind and down, light air and hard and when motoring in  a cross sea, it is frequently set to stabilize the boat.

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