David,
Thanks for the photos with captions. It appears that your way of doing it is a cross between the amateur methods and the sailmaker’s method. The biggest advantage with the amateur way, is, as you say, that it is so much easier to join matching curves. That was my main motivation for using it as well ( I have never made a flat junk sail). When that important first seam has been made, one is freer to jazz on from there. I assume you add batten pockets as you go to avoid too big rolls of canvas under the sewing machine’s arm? As for me, in my crowded little living room, I find it better to use the amateur method through out the job.
My batten pockets will definitely sit on the “outside” of the sail, while yours will be in the middle, which looks neater. I bet your tube kind of batten pockets will work fine.
As for joining the panels the wrong way, I did that on my instruction drawing and had to write a note on it! After that, I have made a habit of marking the tack corner on the mast side with T1, T2 etc.(see photo).
Talking about mast side. I think I read somewhere why one should set the sail on the port side of the mast, if possible: When hoisting the sail, it is then natural to put the boat on the sb. tack to better see the lines in the rig, and possibly reduce friction a bit. Now, sb. tack happens to be the right-of-way tack. Anyway, that’s what I say when people ask...
Cheers, and good luck - with your tempo you will be under way before I will.
Arne
