אנציקלופדיית יאכטות
Mainsail
Mainsails on sailing yachts: cut and reefing, survey wear points, and FairHelm limits on guessing remaining life from a flaked photo.
מה זה
A mainsail is the primary sail set on the mast and boom (or mast track) aft of the mast, providing a large share of driving force and requiring reefing hardware for rising wind.
Anchor
Fully battened and partially battened mains are both common on Nordic cruisers FairHelm sees. Loose-footed cuts and in-mast or in-boom furling appear on refits. UV strip wear, broken slides, and tired reef points show before a tidy cover hides them.
FairHelm judgment
FairHelm judgment: mildew alone is not a fail, but blown seams, delaminated films, and seized reef lines are survey and price items. A boat under sail in one sunny photo does not prove cloth age. Ask for sailmaker notes or a hoist inspection.
Limits
We do not invent remaining-season counts from cloth brand names. Use, UV, and storage dominate life. A sailmaker measures the set in front of you.
שאלות נפוצות
Q: Is in-mast furling always better?
A: It trades convenience for different jam and shape risks. Not automatically "better".
Q: Do full battens prove a new sail?
A: No. Battens can sit in old cloth. Check seams and UV.
Q: Can I survey a mainsail in the cover?
A: Only partly. Hoist or flake open for a real read.