[MHml] Boomless mains

[Bill Gibbs]

Nacra 5.8's use a boomless main.  In addition to Greg's points, it was
common to rig a foot line, a line from tack to clew, that could be
snugged to create a fuller sail for downwind.  Another techniques was to
replace the multi-position hole clew plate on the mainsail, with a short
traveler and track actually on the sail.  This allows for sheet angle
adjustments while sailing.

Bill Gibbs

s.smith at qualcoal.com.au wrote:
> 
> Greg
> 
> We have a boomless setup on our Windrush 600 and generally find it very
> good.  We do have a full width traveller and rotating mast.  I will try to
> answer each of your questions below (or at least how we do it -right or
> wrong):
> 
> How do you reef?
> 
> Our main has two reef points and has small eyelets along each point with
> reinforced clew and tack eyes.  Just about each of the reef points and the
> foot is a batten.  To reef, we lower the halyard and place the downhaul in
> the new tack eye and tension.  The mainsheet is attached via a snap clip to
> the clew and we run a light spectra guide line permanently to the reef
> points.  This is used to control the transfer of the snap clip to the new
> clew eye.  My wife and I have reefed and unreefed many times in all sorts
> of conditions in both racing and cruising situations with never a problem.
> 
> How do you make a tight sail for good laminar flow in zephers.
> 
> The downhaul and sheet tension seem to be the secrets for sail shape in all
> conditions.  I do have a choice of three positions on a clew board which
> does slightly effect the bias of pull by the mainsheet, but unless I know
> it is going to blow or be light, I always use the middle position.  With
> increased sheet, the leach will obviously stand up more, but the battens
> (which are stiffish) are forced more into shape.  Without wind pressure to
> produce much twist a tight sail is resulting.  If the leach stands up too
> much we control this with downhaul.
> 
> How do you bag it out in moderately light winds?
> 
> With light winds, we setup using increased sheet, little downhaul and
> optimum rotation.  Traveller to suit angle of attack.
> 
> How do you keep the foot of the main stretched out when broad reaching or
> running?
> 
> Traveller out to its max and the stiffish bottom batten seems to do an
> alright job.  We often sail with apparent far enough around forward for
> this to cause no problems, but we have been cruising and happily ran with
> no problems.  The set back side stays prevent the sail going out to far
> anyways.
> 
> Cheers
> Steve
> 
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