[tsenator]

There is a good article in this months Sail Magazine on Sail Material and people''s choices. One section discuss''s someones desire (on a Hylas 46) to have a new inmast furling Main. They talk about some of the issues Jeff discuss''s and how today, some of those shortcomings are being overcome by newer sail making techniques.

They talk about using stiff vertical battens and bigger roaches capability. Doing these things allowed a 20% larger roller furling main than the old one.

I think older inmast systems were obviously less than ideal, but I think that more and more techniques are being incorporated to lessen the difference. With longevity of sailshape and inmast systems that keep the mainsail problems to a minumum.

As far as performance I think it really depends on the boat. Yachting World did a comparison sailing of the 3 43'' Jeanneaus - The Sun Odyssey 43DS, Sun Odyssey 43 and Sun Fast 43.

The 43DS had a inmast furler and the regular 43 had a tradional mainsail. The Deck Salon with inmast furler sailed just as well (or better) than the regular 43. It doesn''t make a lot of sense I know, and the reviewers felt the same. But I think on some boats with a mast head rig you don''t see as big a difference as pundits claim.

Read the review and make up your own mind - Yachting World May 2002 p104-110
Jeanneau 43-footers Tim Thomas

(Link is not working now but you used to be able to read the comparison review on-line)http://www.jeanneauamerica.com/43s_ontest/43s_ontest_intro.htm )