Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

Vertical Battens
In Response To: vertical battens in RF genoa ()

I don't have a sail with vertical battens. The purpose of battens is to extend the sail area a small bit for racing. Horizontal battens do this for a mainsail, with the recent addition of no penalty for full horizontal battens, allowing significant increase in mainsail area. Full batten mains for racing (at least the upper two) has become the norm.
I'd ask your sailmaker to give you area figures for sails with and without the vertical battens - how much area are you gaining? I suspect very little.
Battens don't roll well - I'd be leery.

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