Absolutely right. I have the 1st reef in the main most of the time. My L50 sails better. This is partly because the genoa gives better drive because the slot between it and the main is a better shape. It also allows you to pull the boom down harder for a better leach shape. The battens in the main sould be parallel with the boom for best drive but you see most cats sailing with the upper battens far off to to reward (an open leach). This greatly reduces the forward drive of the main. With folding props, good sails, and good trim a Leopard can keep up with (and sometimes walk right by) many so called "performance cruising" catamarans. And going upwind I can see 7kts with a 32AWA and a 110 degree tacking angle (the angle read of the chartplotter so it includes leeway).
Great advice
Absolutely right. I have the 1st reef in the main most of the time. My L50 sails better. This is partly because the genoa gives better drive because the slot between it and the main is a better shape. It also allows you to pull the boom down harder for a better leach shape. The battens in the main sould be parallel with the boom for best drive but you see most cats sailing with the upper battens far off to to reward (an open leach). This greatly reduces the forward drive of the main. With folding props, good sails, and good trim a Leopard can keep up with (and sometimes walk right by) many so called "performance cruising" catamarans. And going upwind I can see 7kts with a 32AWA and a 110 degree tacking angle (the angle read of the chartplotter so it includes leeway).
Nice explanation. What boat are you on?
Sail balance