MacGregorSailors.com

Hi All,
I went for a sail in friends Magnum 28 on Sunday .... I wouldn't swap mine for theirs but I did like the look of the Full Batten main sail which was not bolt-roped to the boom (loose foot?).....Is that something we can do on a Mac .... or not?

All the best.
Neo

That's what I have and have been very happy with but only have the original blown out sails to compare with. More about the main and Genoa and where I got them here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ng-23.html

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

I know Judy B can supply full battens on a main. Batten type (full or partial) is just one of many options.

http://www.hydesailsdirect.com/Macgrego ... /11726.htm

Wrong model boat. Here's the M.

http://www.hydesailsdirect.com/Macgrego ... /11723.htm

So whats the advantages / disadvantages guys?

Fully battened will hold its shape better in lighter winds.

As for the foot, there is debate over which is better, seems there is 3 sorts, normal bolt rope to the boom, bolt rope to the boom with a flap (this was to get around JOG rules which disallowed lose footed mains and of course lose footed,

The flap or the lose foot allows you to open out the bottom of the main in lighter winds or so I have read.

Im sure there are better people on here to explain than I around the place

https://goo.gl/photos/TAZ6xYgDgjNK8hsR7

This is my loose foot full battened main on my

Does it perform better than the stock Doyle? Maybe.
Is the sail shape better with full battens? Probably.

What do I like about it, it is easier to handle and the full battens help keep the sail in the lazy jacks and are less like to jam in them when I raise the sail

Thanks Kadet

I have a Tattoo 26 which came with a fully batten mainsail & rotating mast. My previous boat was a NACRA cat with a similar rig and sails. The battens enable the mainsail to have more surface area in the air with the same mast. The Tattoo mainsail is patterned after racing boats like the vendee globe boats. I do not have any delusions about racing my 26 with my kids, but it looks pretty cool and I am getting better performance and handling out of the boat than the other guys on the water.

I had this discussion with the sailmaker when I had my sail made. Doyle in Salem MA. This sail was designed as a performance sail with maximum roach. His statement was "a sail that size only needs one full batten on the top." A sailboat with a back stay, full roach is still not that much. Now you X or M's without a back stay (don't remember what one). If you had a flat head with a ton of roach you could probably benefit with more than one full batten. I did go with loose foot.

Full battens
Pro's - better shape/profile in lighter winds, easier reefing and flaking, less flogging, longer sail life
Con's - harder to depower in heavier winds, more likely to jam raising and lowering, more weight aloft, harder to shape without telltales, *more weight aloft, slightly more expsnsive

*This is insignificant IMO, but someone will chime in about it. Heavier cloth would be more of a concern.

Loose footed allows you to get better shape when adjusting your outhaul in lighter winds.

It's also good to know that it doesn't have to be all or none either and you can go 3/4, 1/2 whatever. You should be shopping for sail for where and what conditions you're sailing...

yukonbob wrote:It's also good to know that it doesn't have to be all or none either and you can go 3/4, 1/2 whatever. You should be shopping for sail for where and what conditions you're sailing...

Good point yukonbob and thanks for the feedback gents.
Kadet sails in similar conditions to myself so I'll see if i can follow his lead

All the best.
Neo

Neo wrote:...
Kadet sails in similar conditions to myself so I'll see if i can follow his lead

All the best.
Neo

I wouldn't follow my lead I am a pretty lazy, laid back kind of sailer

https://goo.gl/photos/hfSj2TYHpsbT7Zn87

kadet wrote:I wouldn't follow my lead I am a pretty lazy, laid back kind of sailer

Nout better

Looks like I'll be opting for 2 Full top battens and 2 Partial lower battens.... Will see how I go

Sumner wrote:More about the main and Genoa and where I got them here.... http://1fatgmc.com/boat/mac-1/2015%20Ba ... Fowl-2.jpg

Sumner, could you please check that link?

Neo wrote:....Sumner, could you please check that link?

Sorry about that, this should work....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ng-23.html

... and I fixed the other post,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

Hi Summer,

Great photos....
Is that a loose foot?
Whats inside your boom track that I'm assuming your top-lift is attached to?