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Great Shape from the
full roach adds performance |
A Hunter 445 with new Zenith Mainsail.
Note the beautiful shape and extra sail area in the
roach. |
The Zenith main reefs
easily and smoothly |
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Click here for a line drawing of the Zenith Main
with added area - PDF file |
Click here
for a brochure of the Zenith
Main on a Hylas 46 - PDF file |
Click here
for a brochure of the Zenith Main showing construction
details - PDF file |
Is the Zenith Main Right for You?
The mainsail is a very important part of your sail
inventory. It is used more than any other one sail, and
on more points of sail. The area sacrificed in a normal
roller furling main is the most important area of the
main. While the luff may be effected by the mast and
rigging, the leach is free and clear. Roach provides the
extra push for pointing, and just “plain old” horsepower
when reaching and running. Our Zenith main has as much
as 12% more area than the standard roller mainsail that
it is replacing! Because a sail with roach has more
area, greater efficiency, and better esthetics there is
scarcely a reason not to have one!
There are a couple of controlling factors in whether
or not you can have a Zenith mainsail. The first is the
size of the opening of the furling mast. The battens and
any reinforcements must be able to pass easily through
the opening and not hang up! Our sails require a minimum
gap of 15mm, and that is tight. The other restriction is
the cavity capacity! You will need more room to roll up
a sail with battens especially along the foot. Most
roller furling cruising mains have a short leach. This
is to allow the clew to rise as it rolls to keep the
build up of the foot tape from becoming excessive for
the mast cavity. The higher the clew the less build up
and the more sail (and battens) you can roll up. We try
to keep the clew as low as possible for maximizing sail
area. However, it is the top third of the sail that is
critical to the performance of a mainsail, and this is
where the Zenith excels.
To help minimize the required cavity capacity, we use
a special rod batten. The rod is small enough to pass
through the opening easily, not take up too much space
in the cavity, and to roll up and be shipped by UPS.
Another advantage with the full-length batten is in
reefing. It not only makes for a good location to reef,
but it helps keep the luff tight and the furled sail
smoother!
There really is no disadvantage to getting Zenith,
unless you just bought a new roller furling main that is
not a Zenith!! |
FEATURED PRODUCT - Zenith Furling Main with vertical battens 
