


#Tack and clew plus
Many boats are switching to Loose-Footed mains due to the increased control of sail shape, plus they are easier to remove when necessary. This attachment method is equally as strong as that of the standard foot attached along the boom with slides or bolt rope. A Loose-Footed sail is only attached to the boom at the tack and clew. When the outhaul is eased, the sail maintains an airfoil shape down to the boom. The extra fullness is removed by tightening the outhaul. In very light air, the improved performance is achieved even to windward. Loose-Footed Sail: An option that allow you to add a substantial degree of extra fullness (referred to as depth and draft) in the lower portion of the mainsail in order to improve performance on reaches and runs. Chances are your boat is rigged for an outhaul it's an important control. Outhaul: The control line that pulls the mainsail clew to the end of the boom, tightening the foot of the sail and reducing draft. For example, if a boat's J measurement is 12 feet, a 150% genoa will have an LP of 18 feet. Genoa size is expressed in as a percentage, which is the LP divided by J. LP: The abbreviation for Luff Perpendicular, which designates the shortest distance from the clew to the luff of a Genoa. This control is a must for racing and used by some cruisers. Radial designs are favored by racers for their additional strength.Ĭunningham: A control that adjusts the position of the draft in a sail by changing the tension on the sail's luff. Radial: A sail construction technique in which radial panels emanate from one, two, or all of the sail's corners (also called the head, clew, and tack). What follows is an unbiased overview of some of the key terms and concepts you'll run across in your search.Ĭrosscut: A sail construction technique in which all the panels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the sail's leech. and worst of all is the jargon! Some of these sailmakers forget we were all novices at one time. There are so many sail lofts, styles, options, prices. What (and what words) you should know before buying a sailīuying a new sail can be a daunting task. What you should know before buying a sail
