Fad or Function? Fathead Sails Offer A Little of Both

0

Full-length battens create a compression load on the luff end, requiring ball bearing luff car system for sails over about 300 square feet. Off the wind they can chafe on cap shrouds, though if fitted with chafe guards this is not a problem. Trimming the main in a bit and reaching downwind also helps reduce chafe.

    1. On a smaller sail, the top batten is easily inserted at the dock or at anchor.Fad or Function? Fathead Sails Offer A Little of Both
    2. The Doyle Anomaly System locks the headboard to the top car, making for easy furling.Fad or Function? Fathead Sails Offer A Little of Both

 

Related posts: Pros and Cons of ‘Fathead’ Mainsail

Finding Balance with Your New Fathead Sail

 

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.