which mailsail link to mast?

[Dave Pickett]

Seems to me there are 3 options offered:

Eyelet/Luff rings
Grooved mast with sliders
Wire jack stay

Are there any real benefits with any of these or is it just personal choice?

[Hiljoball]

Hi Dave,

If you want to use one of the lighter French masts, then the Groovey is out, leaving two options.

I think most top sailors have adopted the jack line system - there was a comment on one of the videos from the 2011 Worlds at West Kirby to this effect.

The jack line gives better control of the luff of the sail and prevents it from sliding around the mast. With rings or ties, the luff can slide around the side of the mast and when that happens, the draft of the sail changes and become much flatter as the luff curve is no longer following the shape of the mast.

So to me, no contest - jack lines.

John

[Dave Pickett]

prevents it from sliding around the mast. With rings or ties, the luff can slide around the side of the mast and when that happens, the draft of the sail changes and become much flatter as the luff curve is no longer following the shape of the mast.

Exactly what have noticed, thanks John

My longer term boat Shiraz will have jack lines might treat the TS2 to a new no 1 suit with jack lines. No 2 and no 3 are grooved mast/sliders and will probably leave them as is.

[Lester]

There are jack lines and there are luff wires (smile)...

http://www.onemetre.net/Build/Jackline/Jackline.htm

The mast acts as a turbulator (turbulence generator) just ahead of the sail. The interesting question is where you'd like this turbulence -- over the windward or leeward side of the sail? Allowing the sail to "slide around" allows the turbulence to flow where you might prefer it.