After sailing an old (but not yet vintage) yacht for a couple of years, the shortcomings of the original main sail had become apparent. Raising the main was closer to hanging out half a large tea-towel, cut corner to corner, than it was to applying more power or direction to travel.
After a particularly fortunate investment decision provided the funds an investment in boat futures was made and, after a couple of small problems, installed. Yesterday was the first opportunity to test this new arrangement. In a force 3 to 4, and a very calm sea thanks to the wind being largely South Easterly, we sailed about nine miles, there and back. Raising the main (after fiddling with the new cars that get stuck on the old sprung slot) is more like erecting a wing in the middle of the boat. Lots of power, very quickly.
It's going to be a fun year finding out how this behaves in heavier conditions.
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