SO35 Mainsail Questions

[C-Spirit]

Hello,

I am after some info from those in the know, I have just become the owner of a SO35 (2003), I hoisted the Mainsail this weekend to find out it was loose footed and did not have any Jeanneau markings it did have a couple of blue 2.5cm Horizontal strips about 3m apart half way up the mast running the length of the sail.
My questions are: Was it an option to have a loose footed main from new? Should it have the Jeanneau markings and a sail number? If yes where can I find the correct number for my sail and the Jeanneau logo?

This may be the first of many questions...

Thanks

Dan

[reverie]

Hello Dan,

Congratulations on your new boat! I'm certain you will be very pleased with your purchase. We purchased our 2004 SO35 in the spring of 2009, and have had 3 fantastic seasons of cruising on Georgian Bay here in Ontario, Canada.

Yes, my original mainsail was loose-footed. I believe this was the standard. My original main was made by Sobstad, and the rig (mast & boom) is made by Sparcraft for SO35's here in NA. Perhaps different suppliers in your part of the world. I've since replaced my mainsail with a North sail, but again stuck with the loose-foot configuration.

My original mainsail did have the Jeanneau logo at the top. However, no number. You can find the hull number (which should be the same as the number on the mainsail, I think) on a plate just aft of the engine. It should also appear in the documentation provided to the original owner, along with the owner's manual.

Looking at the pictures in the photo gallery of the Jeanneau Owner's website, I note that most Jeanneau's have logos in the mainsail. So I suspect that your mainsail is not the original one that came with your boat. The blue horizontal stripes are your trim strips - they allow you to judge/assess where the deepest part of the draft of your sail is, and to trim accordingly.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your new boat, and please post additional q's as they come up.

Cheers,

John

[Deleted]

Dan,

As the original owner of a 2003 SO35, I will confirm John's statement that SO 35s did come standard with a loose footed main as well as the Jeanneau compass rose on the Main, but no numbers to indicate the size of the boat such as many other boats have. My 2003 came with Elvstrøm Sails not Sobstad sails like Johns.

- James

[corksailor]

We have changed from the original mainsail to McWilliam uk sails a few years ago.We thought the main needed replacing and brought our sailmaker on board last week.We never knew what tension was.He tightened the halyard and outhaul beyond where they never were before.The boat sailed faster.A few nips and tucks on the main but a new jib needed over the winter.Our main is also loose footed.Without a back stay tensioner beware of full roach mainsails and top batten tension.

[C-Spirit]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response, I normally sail on my Fathers Westerly Seahawk when I can so was looking for the info on the sail when I hoisted it, their owners association which is a lot smaller publish sail numbers so when you sail past another you can look at the book and find out who they are and what type and model it is. The numbers run from 1 to what ever the last model of that type was. Totally understand why it cannot be done on Jeanneau Yachts. I have a lot of sailing experience on dinghies and am used to putting stupid amounts of tension on the sails, however whilst doing it on a yacht and using the winch it can be hard to judge how much is needed. Luckily last week my father was on board as we hoisted the sails for the first time and he advised on the tension, after applying the tension the boom creaked every now and again as it moved back and forth. Tested the 2 reefing points with the same amount of tension. The sail in all positions looked good and even my Father commented on it sitting nicely. May be sailing from Plymouth to Exmouth or Portland at the weekend weather permitting so will see how it goes.

Thanks

Dan

[MartyB]

NOT ALL brands of boats come with a sail # on the sail. That number can be the hull number with in the model, OR, as in my case, it is a assigned number to me by the local race authority! This number may also be proceeded by a US or UK or other 2-4 digit letter combo to designate the country of that boat. In my case, the 5 digit number on my sail has NOTHING to do with the hull number.

Then from what I can tell, if I look at my hull # on serial #, I am hull 714, there were only about 300 hull of my model built. So the 714 is probably the the actual 714th hull built by Jeanneau that year is my best guess.

So with this in mind, unless you are racing, you do not need a sail number on the main, or a jib bigger than about 110 or there abouts, or a spin also needs the same sail number on it too. At least locally here in the US where I sail this is how and when I need to have sail numbers on my sails.

Marty

[Don Reaves]

I had the opposite experience regarding tension when talking with my local sailmaker. I had been over tensioning the main halyard, and as a result, the draft was poorly shaped and too far forward.

So the moral of the story is to get it right, not just as tight as you can get it. Knowing what to look for in the sail's shape is necessary, and your sailmaker should be able to teach you.

Don