Hello, Can someone please explain how sailing with a single sail, either head sail or main sail, could INCREASE the load on the mast as compared to sailing with two sails? It seems to me that the more sail area, the higher the load. If you are sailing downwind with a headsail up I don't understand how adding a mainsail could DECREASE the load on the mast.
The way I look at it, when you are sailing downwind the load on the mast is from behind the boat, pushing the mast forward. If you have a headsail up the load will be at the mast head. If you have a mainsail some of the load will be spread along the length of the mast, but always in a forward direction, in addition to the load from the head sail. How would REDUCING sail area (taking the mast down) INCREASE the force on the main? Thanks Barry Barry Lenoble leno...@optonline.net Deep Blue C, C&C 110 Mt. Sinai, NY _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
