mainsail shape

[aigen]

Going downwind or broad reaching, the upper main lies flat against the spreaders. I'm wondering if a vang or full battens might improve sail shape? Or how does one tell if the mains'l needs replacing? Thank you,

Steve

[Bill Michne]

A vang may help, but not much if the sail is blown out. Take it to a good sailmaker who can evaluate how badly or not it is stretched out. There will be some cost, but in my experience it is modest. I had all of Mintaka's sails, now about 6 years old, evaluated this past winter. They all proved to be fine.

[rtbates]

Has your bolt rope shrunk? Probably so. If your main has wrinkles all along the bolt rope it's because the rope shrunk and gathered up the fabric. Having the rope unstitched and re-stretched helps take excess belly out of an older sail.

It worked wonders for Seraph's main.