Sailing - main sails

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main sails

Printed From: Laser 28 International Class Association
Category: Laser 28 General
Forum Name: Sailing
Forum Description: Everything on sailing the boat
URL: http://www.laser28.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=286
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 3:58am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: main sails

Posted By: Gerry McClintoc
Subject: main sails
Date Posted: 16 November 2008 at 10:29pm

I need a new main and would like some imput as to who makes the best one. I race only PHRF and we generally have less than 15knts of wind and smooth seas. We do go in some stiff winds at times 30 -40 with 2-3 meter seas My last one was a composite but I am thinking about going back to Dacron for the new one. Do people still get the second reef?

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mcclintock

Replies:

Posted By: Bill Layton
Date Posted: 18 November 2008 at 10:28am

Pretty safe to say in the east where big L28 fleets race against each other regularly, Quantum One-Design Sails have it wrapped up. Denise Bienvenu (514-631-9845) is Quantum's One-Design rep for the L28, and the L28 owner with the most wins.....she can bring u upto speed :)

Posted By: WarBird
Date Posted: 22 November 2008 at 12:46pm

Gerry,

I have hade some success with a composite main cut extra flat. Main are usually cut with about 12% draft according to my sail maker. Mine is built with 9.5-10%. The boat goes powered up early so aflatter main seemed to make sense. (We race down wind races with a full dacron main, chafe,wear and tear considered). We power up the flat main by easing outhaul and pulling on vang. This pulls the leach and put a lot of draft up in the upper batten. Not perfect, but with a boat as tender, 30-35% ballast, it works pretty well . Look carefully at how much area you can gety into that main. Rapscallion (see other posts) has found a lot of room for extra area in the main. E-mail him, he will explain. The more main area you get, the sooner you go to a #3 jib and we all know this boat really shines in a PHRF fleet once you are into #3 conditions.

warbird@bytehead.com

Posted By: Bill Brock
Date Posted: 24 November 2008 at 1:21pm

Hello Gerry,

I really like my North dacron main. When I bought it three years ago I asked them about 3DL for the main and they said that for a boat the size of a Laser 28 dacron would be a better choice. They told me that the shape of a dacron main can be adjusted better than a more high tech fabric and they were correct. I bought mine through the North loft in Chicago and I have never been sorry. The sail still has great shape. Get the double reef. If your winds are generally above 7 knots, I would suggest a design wind speed of 10 knots. When you talk to the sail makers see how that wind speed compares to the 10% draft suggested above. It should be pretty close.

Bill