Sailing with your Doyle Zenith Full Batten Furling

Sailing with your Doyle Zenith Full Batten Furling Mainsail
Your Doyle Zenith Mainsail incorporates full-length fiberglass rod battens. These battens
run Vertically from Foot to Leech, parallel to the sail Luff. The battens are designed to allow added
roach and to open the leech for a proper trailing edge, and improved performance. When reefing,
these battens also act as a Luff tensioner, making for a smoother, flatter reefed sail.
Tips:
First and foremost, the Mast must be set up correctly. Mast should be reasonably straight.
Too much mast bend, and/or too little tension on the Luff rod can cause problems in proper
sail furling operation. Please consult mast manufacturer set-up instructions.
There is no such thing as a Self-furling sail! Attention needs to be paid to the sail when Unfurling, Reefing, or Furling up.
When un-furling the sail, the furling line should be held in check while pulling the outhaul
line out so that even tension can be kept on leech and foot. This will prevent “freewheeling” of the furling unit, avoiding possible overrides of the furling line and/or the sail,
as it is deployed.
After sail is deployed, tension outhaul and mainsheet for the desired course. Some Leech
line adjustment may be required at this time, especially the first time the sail is set. Pull
gently to just remove any leech flutter, do not over tension.
When Furling, the outhaul line should be held in check so that even tension can be kept on
leech and foot when furling. This will provide a tighter more compact furled sail and help
to eliminate sail hang up due to a loose roll.
When Reefing or Furling, because the battens are parallel to the Luff, they provide a good
indicator as to how evenly the sail is furling up. Mainsheet, Topping lift and/or Vang may
need adjusting to allow even furling.
Preferably, on a calm day and at the dock, spend some time rolling and un-rolling your sail
to get a better feeling of tension required, as well as vang and topping lift settings. Once
you have a good feel for the operation, you may wish to mark your vang and/or topping lift
control lines with a quick reference mark.
Reef location indicating stripes are located on the foot as well as the leech of the sail near
the front two battens. Although the sail can be reefed to any point, these are the
recommended reef points to allow the battens to provide a nice tight luff and flat, smooth
reefed sail.
With a little attention and practice, your Doyle Zenith Main will provide you with un- paralleled
performance and service. Happy Sailing!
Doyle Zenith Vertical Batten furling Mainsail
Bottom of Batten going in after top.
(Vertical black line to illustrate batten location only. It is not on sail.)
This is usually a result of the foot being tight and the leech being loose when
furling. In this scenario, the upper portion of the sail will furl more loosely
causing the Leech of the sail to enter the mast before the Foot.
In this situation, try tightening the vang and/or the mainsheet, and/or lowering
the topping lift in order to even the tension between the foot and the Leech
when furling.
This will allow the sail to roll in evenly, and tightly avoiding any possible sail
overrides and or binding when unrolling.
Top of Batten going in after bottom
This is usually a result of the Leech being tight and the Foot being loose when
furling. In this scenario, the Lower portion of the sail will furl more loosely causing
the Foot of the sail to enter the mast before the leech.
In this situation, try easing the vang and/or main sheet, and/or raising the topping lift
in order to even the tension between the Foot and Leech when furling.
This will allow the sail to roll in evenly, and tightly avoiding any possible sail
overrides and or binding when unrolling.
Batten going in at acceptable angle
2-4 inches difference between the top and bottom is acceptable. If more than
that, roll out and try again. Boom attitude (up or down) and even tension on the
foot and leech is the KEY.
Preferably, on a calm day and at the dock, spend some time rolling and unrolling your sail to get a better feeling of tension required, as well as vang and
topping lift settings. If Top of batten goes in ahead of bottom, try lowering boom
end. If Bottom of batten goes in ahead of Top, try raising boom end.
When reefed, the Zenith Battens
Provide luff tension resulting in a
Much smoother flatter sail then a
Conventional Furling Main.
On this Zenith sail, Lines have been added
to show the difference between a
conventional furling leech and the added
roach of the Zenith Mainsail.