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Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:20 am
by cgould4004
If the sail battens are either modified or replaced with battens that have a stiffer section further aft, this will give a straight run off the back of the sail and as the photo shows ( http://www.mustoskiff.com/reports-and-n ... ension.htm ) This would give the equivalent of a more predictable and easily bladeable leech as well as requiring less batten tension in order to create a stiffer sail shape.
Other benefits of a stiffer batten further aft are that the lower tension required helps the bolt rope area last longer.
Also, it helps keep draft further forward in the sail by allowing the sail to set naturally without twisting.

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:45 am
by Rick
cgould4004 wrote:If the sail battens are either modified or replaced with battens that have a stiffer section further aft, this will give a straight run off the back of the sail and as the photo shows ( http://www.mustoskiff.com/reports-and-n ... ension.htm ) This would give the equivalent of a more predictable and easily bladeable leech as well as requiring less batten tension in order to create a stiffer sail shape.
Other benefits of a stiffer batten further aft are that the lower tension required helps the bolt rope area last longer.
Also, it helps keep draft further forward in the sail by allowing the sail to set naturally without twisting.


Are alternative battens permitted by the class rules?

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:52 am
by cgould4004
I doubt it!
But if sailors are going to ratchet up the tension, the class may want to consider looking at allowing different battens. If you look at a windsurfer rig, they use a hell of a lot of cunningham and the battens are usually anything up to 10mm round carbon rod. This gives a stiff and controllable sail. However, as i said in the last post, stiffer battens would not need to be mega tight in the pocket and therefore would still tack comfortably, especially as only the leech end needs to be extra stiff.

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:54 am
by cgould4004
Try it with "fat" battens (windsurfer) and find out how the rig behaves. They may need modifying- tapering towards the luff end considerably.

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:33 am
by Rick
Class rules don't permit different battens

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 11:21 pm
by Infinite
Old sail question:
This season I am having trouble setting my lowest batten tension to remove a very subtle double-bend near the clew end of my original 2007 main. On a starboard tack the main looks perfect, on a port tack the lower batten pops over nicely but then this little S bend will sometimes subtly bubble up. The slightest touch will make the lower batten pop into the expected shape, yet sometimes it will still pop back forming the bubble.

Here's USA278 fully rigged with the sail behaving correctly for a starboard tack, likely no vang or cunningham at the time. I don't have a shot with the sail popped for a port tack, I'll try to get one this week.
musto-battens-sm.jpg

Re: Batten Tension Article

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 10:33 am
by Bruce
Probably means you have too much batten tension. Try easing the tension and see how it behaves.