Main Sail won't go all the way up?

[ESPERANZA]

I just launched my boat a couple weekends ago. Before launching I read about reducing the mast bend. I moved my Furler attachment point up four inches on the mast and readjusted the shrouds. Everything looks fine. I've compared my mast with the other twenty or so in the Marina and all appear to have the same amount of rake and mast bend as mine. Now comes the strange part. When I put the sail on and raise it, no matter how much tension I put on the Halyard the foot looks baggy. Any ideas?

[Timm Miller]

By foot do you mean the entire length of the bottom of the main or just the tack of the sail? You only need enough tension to take out the wrinkles........to tighten foot, use the outhaul.

[ESPERANZA]

I'm sorry, yes the tack. Where the Mast and Boom meet...

Dik...

[Chip Hindes]

Not to insult your intelligence, but when you hoist the mainsail, make sure both the mainsheet and the boom vang are fully released. I once sailed several hours with a baggy mailsail before realizing this was the problem.

[ESPERANZA]

Thanks Chip,
I did have the main sheet released but didn't think to check the vang. Don't worry about insulting my intellegence, or lack of. I'm just starting out. I've only had the boat out once and there was barely enough breeze to make head way. I'll check the vang next time...
Thanks...

Dik...

[jmdefino]

I had a similar problem on my 2000X. I needed to cut the bolt rope loose. I remembered that I had had the same problem on a 1990S.
As I have sail slugs, having the bolt rope sewn at the top and bottom was not necessary.

[ESPERANZA]

I'm sending my sail to Bill next week for some slugs and reefing lines. If the Vang thing doesn't do the trick I'll look at the bolt rope when I get it back...
Thanks...

Dik...

[Chip Hindes]

You didn't mention the very light winds before. We see these a lot where I sail. In very light winds, it's tough to get decent sail shape with the limited number of sail controls most of us have, and I believe a certain amount of bagginess at the foot is normal.

Something you might try next time you get these is sheeting the boom to windward; I have a snap shackle at the pedestal end of the mainsheet, so can quickly detach it, then reattach it to the lifeline loop on the windward stanchion. It's sometimes good for a knot or so when otherwise you'd be dead in the water.

[ESPERANZA]

That sounds like a pretty good trick Chip. Have you seen the set up on the 26M? How tough would it be to rig something like that?

Dik...

[craiglaforce]

Don't you guys with the M have a traveller? If so, just move the traveller up.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Remember, the Mac sails are baggy it seems by design. Don't be expecting that Americas Cup blade shape. As long as you get most of the wrinkles out up the mast track the shape at the bottom near the gooseneck really doesn't matter much.

Craig is right, skip the X boat sail control tricks and use your traveler to move the sail to windward like a proper sailboat.

[Rolf]

Esperanza,
You may have received the wrong sail with your x boat, the larger main from the M! What you describe is exactly what happened to me. I took it back to the dealer, who told me many of the last 2002 x boat were shipped out with the M main. He replaced it, of course, and the new sail fit perfectly. Hope this helps,
Rolf-abatross-2002x

[Rolf]

Esperanza,
You may have received the wrong sail with your x boat, the larger main from the M! What you describe is exactly what happened to me. I took it back to the dealer, who told me many of the last 2002 x boat were shipped out with the M main. He replaced it, of course, and the new sail fit perfectly. Hope this helps,
Rolf-abatross-2002x

[ESPERANZA]

I think I have the right sail. My X is a 97' and the sail doesn't look all that new. Maybe this weekend we'll have some wind so I can try the tips that I've learned here...
Thnsk...

Dik...

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

Halyard twisted?
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