[Rhodes22-list] Loose footed main sails

Ed Kroposki rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Wed, 28 Aug 2002 10:18:09 -0400


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Message
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Roger Pihlaja=20
  To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
  Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 5:55 AM
  Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Loose footed main sails


  Ed,

  Probably, but it wouldn't be as simple as sewing a bolt rope into the =
foot of an IMF mainsail.  Does your IMF boom have a slot to accept a =
boltrope?  Of course, attaching the boom & foot together with a boltrope =
would greatly increase the friction in the IMF system, thus making it =
much more difficult to operate.  Even if you had a boltrope on the foot =
of your sail & a boom with a slot to accept the boltrope, I don't think =
it would help the performance very much because the mainsail's shape & =
design is compromised to be compatible with IMF.  The IMF mainsail has =
no battens & no easy way to have battens & still be able to furl the =
sail inside of the mast.  Are you prepared to remove the battens every =
time you want to furl the sail?  Are you prepared to go up the mast in a =
bosun's chair in order to be able to get at the upper battens?  That =
would sort of defeat the purpose of IMF wouldn't it?  The IMF mainsail =
has little if any roach.  Roach: If you drew an imaginary line from the =
head of the sail to the clew, the portion of the sail area outside of =
that line is called the roach.  Sails with no roach are essentially =
triangular in shape when viewed from a side elevation.  Triangular sails =
are very aerodynamically inefficient.  The optimum side elevation =
profile looks more like an ellipse, which implies a considerable amount =
of roach.  But, without battens to support the shape, the roach area of =
the sail will curl hopelessly to windward, thus creating monster weather =
helm & other sail trimming problems.  This is a primary reason why =
battens were originally introduced into mainsail design.

  IMF mainsails were orginally developed for big cruising boats being =
sailed shorthanded, or with inexperienced crew, or by elderly or =
physically unfit crew in order to enable the big mainsails to be safely =
handled.  The 110 square foot mainsail on Dynamic Equilibrium is a =
pretty small sail area & has never been a problem for me to handle.  The =
reduction in sailing performance involved in IMF mainsails is simply not =
acceptable for me.  However, I realize a lot of Rhodes 22 owners on this =
list absolutely love their IMF mainsails.  That's part of the charm of =
the Rhodes 22 & GBI.  You really can have it your way.  Ed, enjoy the =
convenience, safety, & whatever level of performance you have with your =
IMF mainsail because I think you're stuck with it the way it is.=20

  If still you want more boat speed, then I would get a better genoa =
rigged on a modern, 3rd or 4th generation design, roller furler for =
upwind sailing plus a triradial &/or a cruising spinnaker rigged with a =
snuffer sock for downwind work.  These upgrades will give you far more =
bang for your buck than trying to upgrade your IMF mainsail.  Under =
certain sailing conditions, especially when it's puffy, I would think =
the combination of good headsails & the infinite adjustability of an IMF =
mainsail to balance the helm would be very fast.  I'd love to sail on an =
IMF mainsail boat equipped like this.  This setup might very well come =
close to having it all.

  Roger Pihlaja
  S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Ed Kroposki=20
    To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
    Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 7:31 PM
    Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Loose footed main sails


    Roger:
           Now for the IMF crowd -- is there anyway to secure the main =
to the boom to maintain shape on the Stan Spitzer design IMF???? =20
                                  Ed k
      ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: Roger Pihlaja=20
      To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
      Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 7:01 PM
      Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Bending & PHRF Rating


      Richard,

      Bullshit!  To the best of my knowledge, there isn't a single =
performance oriented sailboat racing class that prefers to use loose =
footed mainsails.  I don't know why Doyle has made this marketing =
decision.  Fortunately, there are plenty of other choices of sailmakers =
& I would run, not walk, away from this idiot at Doyle.

      Roger Pihlaja
      S/V Dynamic eQuilibrium
        ----- Original Message -----=20
        From: R.G. Smith=20
        To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
        Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 2:46 PM
        Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Bending & PHRF Rating


        The mainsail on my boat is pretty much shot also.  My boat is a =
re-mfg 1990 and I insisted on the old style spars (non IMF) and the sail =
I have is all that Stan had.  I got in touch with Doyle regarding a new =
main the sail they suggust has 2 full length battens at the head and 2 =
partial battens towards the foot.

        The sail they quoted was also loose footed!  When I expressed =
surprise I was told that (Doyle) was no longer building mains with bolt =
ropes along the foot.  There contention is that a loose footed sail =
set's better and last longer.

        Richard Smith

          =20

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<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dcen09402@centurytel.net =
href=3D"mailto:cen09402@centurytel.net">Roger=20
  Pihlaja</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
  =
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
 </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 25, 2002 =
5:55=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Rhodes22-list] =
Loose footed=20
  main sails</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Ed,</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Probably, but it wouldn't be as =
simple as sewing=20
  a bolt rope into the foot of an IMF mainsail.&nbsp; Does&nbsp;your IMF =
boom=20
  have a slot to accept a boltrope?&nbsp; Of course, attaching the boom =
&amp;=20
  foot together with a boltrope would greatly increase the friction in =
the IMF=20
  system, thus making it much more difficult to operate.&nbsp; Even if =
you had a=20
  boltrope on the foot of your sail &amp; a boom with a slot to accept =
the=20
  boltrope, I don't think it would help the performance very much =
because the=20
  mainsail's shape &amp; design&nbsp;is compromised to be compatible =
with=20
  IMF.&nbsp; The IMF mainsail has no battens &amp; no easy way to have =
battens=20
  &amp; still be able to furl the sail inside of the mast.&nbsp; Are you =

  prepared to remove the battens every time you want to furl the =
sail?&nbsp; Are=20
  you prepared to go up the mast in a bosun's chair in order to be able =
to get=20
  at the upper battens?&nbsp; That would sort of defeat the purpose of =
IMF=20
  wouldn't it?&nbsp; The IMF mainsail has little if any roach.&nbsp; =
Roach: If=20
  you drew an imaginary line from the head of the sail to the clew, the =
portion=20
  of the sail area&nbsp;outside of that line is called the roach.&nbsp; =
Sails=20
  with no roach are essentially triangular in shape when viewed from a =
side=20
  elevation.&nbsp; Triangular sails are very aerodynamically =
inefficient.&nbsp;=20
  The optimum side elevation&nbsp;profile looks more like an ellipse, =
which=20
  implies a considerable amount of roach.&nbsp; But, without battens to =
support=20
  the shape, the roach area of the sail will curl hopelessly to =
windward,=20
  thus&nbsp;creating monster weather helm &amp; other sail trimming=20
  problems.&nbsp; This is a primary reason&nbsp;why battens were =
originally=20
  introduced into mainsail design.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>IMF mainsails were orginally =
developed for big=20
  cruising boats&nbsp;being&nbsp;sailed shorthanded, or with =
inexperienced=20
  crew,&nbsp;or by elderly&nbsp;or physically unfit crew&nbsp;in order =
to enable=20
  the big mainsails to be&nbsp;safely handled.&nbsp; The 110 square foot =

  mainsail&nbsp;on Dynamic Equilibrium is a&nbsp;pretty small sail area=20
  &amp;&nbsp;has never been a problem for me to handle.&nbsp; The =
reduction in=20
  sailing performance involved in IMF mainsails&nbsp;is simply not =
acceptable=20
  for me.&nbsp; However, I realize a lot of Rhodes 22 owners on this=20
  list&nbsp;absolutely love their IMF mainsails.&nbsp; That's part of =
the charm=20
  of the Rhodes 22 &amp; GBI.&nbsp; You really can have it your =
way.&nbsp; Ed,=20
  enjoy the convenience, safety, &amp; whatever level of performance you =
have=20
  with your IMF mainsail because I think you're stuck with it the way it =

  is.&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If still you want more boat speed, =
then I would=20
  get a better genoa&nbsp;rigged on&nbsp;a modern, 3rd or 4th generation =
design,=20
  roller furler for upwind&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;plus a triradial &amp;/or=20
  a&nbsp;cruising&nbsp;spinnaker rigged with a snuffer sock for downwind =

  work.&nbsp; These&nbsp;upgrades&nbsp;will give you far more bang for =
your buck=20
  than&nbsp;trying to upgrade&nbsp;your IMF mainsail.&nbsp; Under =
certain=20
  sailing conditions, especially when it's puffy, I would think the =
combination=20
  of good headsails &amp; the infinite adjustability of an IMF mainsail =
to=20
  balance the helm&nbsp;would be very fast.&nbsp; I'd love to sail on an =
IMF=20
  mainsail boat equipped like this.&nbsp; This setup might very well =
come close=20
  to having it all.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Roger Pihlaja</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>S/V Dynamic Equilibrium</FONT></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
  style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
    <DIV=20
    style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
    <A title=3Dkroposki@innova.net =
href=3D"mailto:kroposki@innova.net">Ed=20
    Kroposki</A> </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
    =
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
=20
    </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 24, =
2002 7:31=20
    PM</DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Rhodes22-list] =
Loose footed=20
    main sails</DIV>
    <DIV><BR></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3D"Courier New">Roger:</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3D"Courier New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =

    <STRONG>Now for the IMF crowd</STRONG> -- is there anyway to secure =
the main=20
    to the boom to maintain shape on the <EM>Stan Spitzer design=20
    IMF????</EM>&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT=20
    face=3D"Courier =
New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=
bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb=
sp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
    Ed k</FONT></DIV>
    <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
    style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
      <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- =
</DIV>
      <DIV=20
      style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
      <A title=3Dcen09402@centurytel.net=20
      href=3D"mailto:cen09402@centurytel.net">Roger Pihlaja</A> </DIV>
      <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
      title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
      =
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
=20
      </DIV>
      <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 24, =
2002 7:01=20
      PM</DIV>
      <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: =
[Rhodes22-list] Mast=20
      Bending &amp; PHRF Rating</DIV>
      <DIV><BR></DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Richard,</FONT></DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Bullshit!&nbsp; To the best of my =
knowledge,=20
      there isn't a single performance oriented sailboat =
racing&nbsp;class that=20
      prefers to use loose footed mainsails.&nbsp; I don't know why =
Doyle has=20
      made this marketing decision.&nbsp; Fortunately, there are plenty =
of other=20
      choices of sailmakers&nbsp;&amp; I would run, not walk, away from=20
      this&nbsp;idiot at Doyle.</FONT></DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Roger Pihlaja</FONT></DIV>
      <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>S/V Dynamic =
eQuilibrium</FONT></DIV>
      <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
      style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
        <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- =
</DIV>
        <DIV=20
        style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
        <A title=3Dsailnut@asan.com =
href=3D"mailto:sailnut@asan.com">R.G. Smith</A>=20
        </DIV>
        <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
        title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
        =
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
=20
        </DIV>
        <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August =
24, 2002=20
        2:46 PM</DIV>
        <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: =
[Rhodes22-list] Mast=20
        Bending &amp; PHRF Rating</DIV>
        <DIV><BR></DIV>
        <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
        class=3D718413818-24082002>The mainsail on my boat is pretty =
much shot=20
        also.&nbsp; My boat is a re-mfg 1990&nbsp;and I insisted on the =
old=20
        style spars (non IMF)&nbsp;and the sail I have&nbsp;is all that =
Stan=20
        had.&nbsp; I got in touch with Doyle regarding a new =
main&nbsp;the sail=20
        they suggust&nbsp;has 2 full length battens at the head and 2 =
partial=20
        battens towards the foot.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
        <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
        class=3D718413818-24082002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
        <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
        class=3D718413818-24082002>The sail they quoted was also loose=20
        footed!&nbsp; When I expressed surprise I was told that (Doyle) =
was no=20
        longer building mains with bolt ropes along the foot.&nbsp; =
There=20
        contention is that a loose footed sail set's better and last=20
        longer.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
        <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
        class=3D718413818-24082002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
        <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
        class=3D718413818-24082002>Richard Smith</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
        <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
          <DIV></DIV>
          <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT=20
          face=3DTahoma=20
    =
size=3D2><BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></=
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