Currently replacing sails. Considering full battens and slab reefing. Have an F33 with wishbone booms no battens.
If you have wishbone booms you can benefit from letting the foresail well forward of the beam and having it’s power not shaded by the mizzen, with the wind on the quarter. In that case full length battens might not like the extreme articulation range. Mizzen can benefit from full length battens, as it need not be set forward of the beam…. but the sail will be harder to raise with them. And the mizzen is not the best place for a big roach, anyway.
Well thank you…. That is exactly the kind of useful information I was hoping for. Deeply appreciated.
Depends on the cut of the sails. I have a F30 CK with wishbone booms and single-ply, quite roachy sails. Both of them have full length battens. Never had any trouble setting the booms at any angle, they keep the shape, and they are quite powerful.
Ok, that is good to know. Appreciated
Carl
Wishbone booms with battens on my freedom 28 cat ketch. (Second pair of sails)
I have tides slides track
Easy enough to raise and falls like an avalanche. Battens help it to fall within boom when dropping sail.
Easier to maintain foil in all winds
Larger sail area with mast height possible with battens
Longer cord beneficial with thick round mast sections
Less flogging for quieter sailing and longer sail life.
Wrap around sails allowing de -
powering on a run with booms more than 90 degrees can stress track when slides are attached to batten pockets without a hinge. Loosening Outhaul and choker can help to offset this issue.
Full length battens ar more expensive.
Full length Battens are worth it for me.
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Interesting: “Never had any trouble setting the booms at any angle,” - well forward of the beam even? With the sail well forward, we have the batten resting against the mast, and trying to lever the slide out of the track…or break the batten. So there is a practical limit as to how far forward ours will go. What sail slides or battens are you using which will let the boom forward to, say, 45 degrees forward of the beam? (or 45 degrees off the head of the boat). Thanks
I will check today and get back to you. The sailmaker and rigger that are currently working on the vessel have that information and the vessel is not currently where I can take a photo of it. Both assured be that it will work. I can tell you that I am not going to be using the wrap around sails. Let me get back to you later today. Thanks
Carl
Hi Nick. Ok, “any reasonable and practicable” angle, but it includes forward of the beam, particularly with a light breeze. My sails are single ply, but even with double-ply or pocket sails, they should pivot around the mast, and so should the batten’s luff end. I never had any problem with this anyhow.