Vertically Battened Mainsail for HR39 in 350grm Hydra-Net. Made for me by Maxi Roach and used for the last two seasons , the sail has an area of 40sq.m and includes sewn in clew block, vertical battens,Royal blue sunstrip, and HR39 Logo.The sail noticeably improves my boats performance compared with the original Elvstrom furling mainsail. Price £650 (Photo Available on request)
Reply to:- whiteshythe@aol.com

By bob tetley on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 08:09 am:

Steve, I dont want to buy it but would be very interested in your view on vertical battens. I have just sold my 42 with max-furl and need to decide between max-furl and vertical battens for my HR53. Any info would be helpful.Thanks

By Steve White on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 11:27 pm:

Bob,

I haven't tried max-furl, but I suspect you can support more roach with vertical battens.

I am now on my third v.battened sail, each having slightly more roach than the last, plus a number of other refinements such as variable weight clothes.(Heavy at the clew becoming lighter towards the luff.) My present mainsail has approximately 20 percent more area than the original Elvstrom sail supplied by HR.

In my opinion, Rassy's need all the sail area available in light airs, although you will have to reef a little earlier.

I have been very pleased with vertical battens, My boat performs better under all conditions including going to windward.

Apart from the cost, I can think of only one disadvantage,you will have to find space to store the battens when you remove the sail, bearing in mind that they are considerably longer than the boat.The carbon battens have to be in one piece and do not like being curled up for long periods.

More and more sail lofts are now building vertically battened sails. In addition to Maxi-Roach and Hood I now suspect even Elvsrom can supply you with one. (See the photo's of the new 40 on the HR website.)

Good luck with your HR53.

PS. Have just ordered a vertically battened genoa for my HR39.