How bad is my main sail?
 

So I am pretty certain I know the answer to this question but how worn out is this main sail? I don't have a winch to crank the halyard but not real sure this would make much difference (23 foot Spirit). I feel like I can get a reasonable shape out of the genoa but the main is always super saggy at the bottom. The outhaui also has no blocks so I would guess that would help a bit also.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2LspWMRzH1Xkp7AP6

The preference now seems to be for loose footed sails, would that be much of a benefit?

Thanks

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

Is that picture supposed to demonstrate something other than you don't know how to set your jib? No idea how you can possibly get a reasonable shape out of a jib without hanking it on.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

If That's the best you can do, to give him advice, why bother responding?


To the OP.. It's difficult to tell the condition of your mainsail from the picture you posted. Maybe you can post another picture of the full main.

With Regard to the Head Sail. It looks like you have your lazy sheet inside the shrouds. It should be in front of everything. Also, If you can, you should probably move your fair-leads forward a bit for that head sail.
I'm guess you realized that when you went to tack.

Also, It's difficult to tell from a photo. but I'd make a guess that your standing rigging needs some tuning. That head stay appears to have quite a big of sag to it.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

I think hanking on a hank-on jib is quite good advice, frankly. His lazy sheet looks fine as does the jib car position.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

The forestay looks fine, the jib just isn't attached to it.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

It's hard to tell definitively from photo but a couple of suggestions:

The jib does not seem to be hanked on OR the forestay is way too loose. I almost think I see a reefing drum (to which jib is attached?) but I don't see the foil that would go with it, so not sure what's going on there.

Angle of sheet might be ok - rule-of-thumb is that it should point to mid-point of sail luff (leading edge).

Main does look baggy - the wrinkles suggest the outhaul could use some tension. Also, is the topping lift slack allowing boom to drop? I also don't see a downhaul (maybe it's there...) so make sure there is tension at luff too.

A pic from the far stern showing how the sail sets would be helpful.

Good luck!

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

Yeah, Sorry, I didn't see that. I saw the drum, and missed the hanks.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

here is the original manual this might help the OP and others. did not read the whole manual so I don't know if the info is correct or not.
http://www.codysguide.com/spirit28/s...rit-manual.pdf

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

I'm now actually wondering if it's one of those furling sails with the integral wire luff. Regardless, those are garbage and the sail appears to have hanks so hank it on.

Re: How bad is my main sail?
 

Is that one of those new-fangled loose luffed jibs?