Main sail battens

I am buying a new main for an S&S34 and would appreciate others views on the benefits of having full length battens versus partial length battens. It is a cruising boat, I don't race it (except when there is another yacht within sight). Thanks

Never lost one yet!

Only been using full batten mains since 1992.

The latest main (2010) I had batten cars fitted as well. This has enabled us to reef without too much trouble on any wind angle, including down wind.

As for the sail itself, the sail hold a much better shape, especially running.

IMO worth the extra money.

Dusty

Never had a drama with the full battons.

never had anything else.

except on dinghys

I'm sure I could fit that into my busy schedule, I'm pretty flat out as a pensioner these days though there are some crappy days ahead that will keep me off the water. PM sent.

We had full length battens on our old UFO34 - They were great. We did more racing than cruising.....

Yes they have very similar lines, the UFO a bit more voluptuous in her curves.
The S&S34 crowd got used to looking at that view (our stern)

They were one of the hottest boat on the water back in the early to mid 70's. We bought her in about 2005, and recently sold her. By pure coincidence, the new yacht we bought, a Sydney 36, is just visible in front of us on that photo.

Ahhh!!! love the Carter 33 had one for 5 years.
Called "Ghost".
What is holding the dinghy up in that picture??

I have heard that S&S34s did alright in the 70s and 80s. A win in 1969 S2H I believe and the odd one or two Class wins and places in the S2H and other ocean races. Even had a 3rd in Division in the 2007 S2H.
I have to say that the UFO and the Carter are fine looking yachts. I would be proud to own either of them.

From recent reports from W.A. they are doing quite well to the point of real annoyance to the owners of Beneteaus, Jenneaus etc.

The 1969 win of the S2H was by Morning Cloud owned by Ted Heath who later became the British PM. My yacht "Cicely June", the very first S&S 34 to come to Australia, also competed in the same race and placed around 16th.

Read the article about the start of the S&S 34 legend here:- www.ss34.org/

Cisko,

A couple of years ago there was about five Walker Bays in the Cruising Yacht club, now there are Two and these have had the extra bouyancy skirts fitted to them, which makes them more expensive than the most expensive inflatable on the market?

Over our sailing career we have had a catamaran type tender, a pram type, a Archillies inflatable (pump up keel), Walker Bay, Zodiac Zoom and currently a Aaron inflatable with pump up keel.

The catamaran style is about as useful as an ash tray on a motor bike, closely followed by the Walker Bay. For a hard tender the pram type takes sum beating but not a great rower and quite wet in a chop. The inflatables with a keel are miles in front on all accounts, except for areas with lots of oysters or coral.

As for carrying it on davits, I am not racing with it in place, I am there for cruising and comfort. Pretty picture, performance, versus practicallity?

Our cruising ground is the souther regions of Tasmania, good anchorages are found in abundance within short sailing distances. When cruising in company with the cruising yacht club, the order of the day is usually a BBQ each evening ashore or a BBQ at lunch time with an fossick around the area, hence the convenience of the davits. Although these days most yachts seem to prefer towing the tender behind, something I have had trouble coming to terms with, but in ideal conditions I now follow this practice.

I found that if we were ashore and the weather decided to take a turn forthe worse and the anchorage began to chop up, the Walker Bay was decidedly scarey with little freeboard and poor stability. The inflatables, powered by (in our case, a Honda 2hp) being more stable and safer.

As you have stated, in extreme conditions or sailing further offshore, we do pack the inflatable up and stow it.

Of course these are only my opinions and observations over the years, we each have to make up our own mind on the practicality and ease of use for the conditions we use them in.

Cheers

Dusty