Hi all, I suppose this last VIDEO (which I cant link, since after pasting URL, I don't have the 'Insert Link' button...) sums up the 'MDS' pretty well.

The 'Mike Dart System' is the simplest way to sew a JR, since there's no cutting and stitching back together of separate panels, just straight darts, of course your material has to be bigger than the sail itself, therefor the 'MDS' is fit only for Polytarp sails...

Bottom line, the photos below show a beautiful sail, deep camber and wonderful shape. The Video (which you can Copy and Paste, or search by name in YouTube) explains and shows the Dark Side of the 'MDS', connecting the battens....

This is the hardest yet the most important task of this system, we stretch the sail out on a wooden frame with small clamps, the battens underneath are fitted, now with long sticks, or with the scaffolding we tap on every crease, as we move the clamps looking for the sweet spot....

Learning how to do this and getting it done to the best degree possible, took us a couple days, not easy yet one must keep their cool and just keep going, looking for creases and dealing with them. I started in the middle of the sail, got four clamps onto the two battens, once middle panel looked good we went down slowly, stretching and clamping, then from the middle we went up....

Lucky I'm 49 years old, cos this sail is surely for under 50 year olders....

Yet I'm very pleased and think I may keep making them this way, since I feel it may be easier than cutting barrels and stitching them back together....

Keep junking guys, Balkan Shipyards

The Video's URL: https://youtu.be/hfGQgWKrs8U?si=NjgFKW1YC5f-4gut

Just Copy and Paste, or search Youtube for: 

Thanks Jan! I too have a good feeling...

Now stretched out it's flatter and looking good.

Thanks Graeme, for explaining the deal...

I will measure camber once aloft and tell u

Rael having an F'ing epiphany

Great video, Rael. Well placed expletives. Our sailing secretary Eric used to fly around the world at 500kn with wings with 12% camber so don't worry about your camber man, looks great. 

Here it is.

I don't know why it wouldn't link.

"I actually get motion sickness sometimes watching the clips!"

I don’t think that’s motion sickness Jan, maybe it’s the toxic paint fumes getting to you. I feel it too at times … there seems to be something in the air at Balkan Shipyards … I dunno whaddit is guys … whaddever … which is having a wonderful calming effect on the mind, luckily for the workshop cat.

(Patrick makes a good point too. Having made a not very successful attempt, late in life, to acquire a second language, I can only admire the fluency of all of our members who are bi-lingual and in many cases using the language more effectively than some modern-day native speakers. Languages are continuously evolving too, of course – to the chagrin of us grumpy old coots who think we would like to "maintain standards". it’s an interesting subject when you stop to think about it).

Anyway, you’ve now had the health warning folks – breath deeply, put in a reef, and enjoy the next episode coming to you from the one and only Balkan Shipyards.

And also maintain pride in the congenial, if slightly less colourful tone of the JRA forums.