Main sail reefing procedure

[sailboatmike]

It seems even the sail makers cant agree on this one, some say it gives very little added extra power http://www.fxsails.com/article_loosefoot.php , while others say it gives considerable performance increase while beating or reaching http://www.voyagersails.com/loose_foot.html, http://www.uksailmakers.com/racing-main ... oose-foot/

To quote uksailmakers "Most of today’s mainsails are loose-footed with nothing attaching the sail to the boom other than the tack at the gooseneck and the clew on the outhaul. As seen here, a loose-footed mainsail is able to produce a much more aerodynamic shape down low which enhances the performance of the sail."

[romandesign]

It seems even the sail makers cant agree on this one, some say it gives very little added extra power http://www.fxsails.com/article_loosefoot.php , while others say it gives considerable performance increase while beating or reaching http://www.voyagersails.com/loose_foot.html, http://www.uksailmakers.com/racing-main ... oose-foot/

To quote uksailmakers "Most of today’s mainsails are loose-footed with nothing attaching the sail to the boom other than the tack at the gooseneck and the clew on the outhaul. As seen here, a loose-footed mainsail is able to produce a much more aerodynamic shape down low which enhances the performance of the sail."

Well, the quote I used is from the article written by a sail maker expert, and it says "Neither concept offers a significant performance advantage under sail for most types of boats". So as usual the more experts - the more opinions. He also says that most sail makers prefer loose-footed sails now, but not really for performance reasons. In any case, I'm not in it to win races.

[sailboatmike]

Its a bit like the whole how does a airplane wing thing, I have read in about the even numbers both theories, the one that says the air above the wing accelerates creating higher pressure above the wing and the other that says the air above the wig simply has to travel further thus creates a high pressure zone.

What both of these theories fail to take into account is that lift can be and is generated by a flat surface dependent on the angle of attack, all the experts acknowledge that flat surfaces can and do create lift. Many dinghies and a number of TS's have a centerboard that is just a unshaped bit of ply yet they dont get pushed off the wind