Boomless!

[Michel]

I don't want to argue about this because you probably know what you are talking about. But the thing is that my GPS is telling me that I am sailing a little faster than before in similar conditions with the exception of dead downwind.
But there is no way I can prove it!... So I will continue having fun.
I wish you some happy sailing.

[Griphos]

Yeah, not wanting to argue either. But I do think it's important not to claim performance increase or even equity when that's not really possible. Claiming to enjoy it more, that's fine, of course, and mostly the point.

Of course, your GPS tells you speed over the ground, not sailing speed. And dead downwind is the point of sail at which not having the boom will affect you the least.

[Michel]

Thank you for telling that I am a liar.
Have a nice day.

[Michel]

I am not alone!
My inspiration for trying this method came from watching videos like this one:
http://youtu.be/DtmAjgtPvY8
Maybe I will keep on sailing this way, I can't tell but I am at least willing to give it a good try.
I see nothing wrong if somebody is not in agreement with the method. There are different schools but there should not be any allusion that I am lying about what I am sharing on this message board. I am not!

[Michel]

The woman in that Oday 222
http://youtu.be/dlGTR_q6iU8
Was filming these images of my boat:
http://youtu.be/u2cJ6Cogx4I

I have a lot of twist in my main. My vang was slack.That jib was almost dead and my boat at 18½ feet is normally slower than a 22 footer.
Why was I having no problem at all in keeping pace with that faster boat?
And I had my dinghy in tow!

I see some contradictions here.

[Griphos]

I'm not sure what contradictions you're seeing. And I'm not sure what this has to do with sailing boomless. You have your boom in that video.

But, with respect to this particular video, I don't know what you mean by your jib being dead. It's drawing fine. There's a lot of twist. You don't need vang on a close reach, although it would help reduce the twist in the main. And over the course of the 25 seconds of the video, she's passing you pretty quickly.

Again, I'm not wanting to argue about whether you should or shouldn't sail with a boom. Only that sailing without a boom, and the additional controls that go along with the boom cannot be as efficient as sailing with those controls. I originally took issue with your claim that all those controls are for reducing heel. They are not. And boats cannot sail as well or better when you can't adjust the shape of your sail. It's not as if the laws of physics and centuries of sailing knowledge and development are suspended on your boat.

I don't think there's much reason to continue flogging this inert piece of horseflesh, though.

[Michel]

This subject in nothing new. Just google "Boomless mainsail" and you (generic) will find a lot of questions about it in various message boards from all around. Many sailors are interested or would like to give it a try for their own and are asking questions and offering suggestions.
I was hoping that I could find someone here who had dare to give it an honest try!... And who was brave enough to talk about it!...

Too bad! But I can understand why!

[Griphos]

Yeah, it's your use of the word "dare" and "brave" that I find puzzling, and, frankly, a little amusing. As if there's some big "boom" conspiracy that is against people revealing the truth about the "secret" of boomless sailing for fear of losing sales or something.

If you like it, great. You're giving up control of the sail shape, but if you don't mind, fine. I'll just reiterate the point I got into the discussion to make. The controls you lose when giving up a boom do a LOT more than just de-power the sail.

[Michel]

I don't think there's much reason to continue flogging this inert piece of horseflesh, though.

Looks like you found some new reasons...

[Michel]

Interesting concept! The mast looks more like a rigid forestay than a mast!
Mastless and boomless?...
http://youtu.be/CP4d4IXEaK0