Richard Brooksby wrote:
A few questions:
- Do I have my facts straight?
- Does anyone have links or references for information about the various batten schemes?
- What mistakes am I making?
- What factors have I forgotten?
- Any opinions on open issues: sailcloth, batten material, sheeting scheme, or anything else?
- What would you do?
Yes, you have your facts straight. I'd add the regular sailmaker's way of cambering panels - a separate shelf at top and bottom of each panel; and broad-seaming of vertical cloths.
For performance and control, I'd use an upper and a lower sheet, as Edward now has on Amiina, and as I had on my large Fantail sail -two vastly different sail shapes, but both better controlled.
Sailcloth - see if you can get some Sunwing cloth from Kayospruce. It is no longer in production, but is the best cruising cloth for JR, IMHO, unless you want to leave the sail uncovered, in which case you could go for Odyssey III.
Battens - aluminium alloy tube would be the easiest option, with pultruded GRP also a contender.
What would I do? A smaller version of Fantail's sail. But then, I'm biassed.