BIG HEAD MAIN PAGE

Hopefully you will find all the information you need on the new Taipan Big Head main that was voted into the class rules in March 2007.

If you have any questions or details you would like to post on this page that will be of value to other Taipan sailors please email the webmaster at webmaster@taipan.asn.au

The change will take effect 18 months after the results of the vote were accepted, this means the new sail can be used in National and State competitions from April 2008.

If you are looking to purchase a new big head sail please consider AHPC, www.ahpc.com.au or Ashby Sails www.ashbysails.com who regularly support Australian Taipan sailing and TCAA fundraising efforts. AHPC have already began testing and development of the new sail plan.

Below are the new measurements for the big head main that were voted into the Taipan 4.9 class rules. The new measurements will bring the sail area very close to the F16 sail area. This is about a 1% increase in area over the old Taipan mainsail area.

The new restrictions for the bighead mainsail are set out below. (The original sail measurements are included in Red brackets)
The maximum luff length of the sail has also increased as this can easily be accommodated by having a 50mm cut out at the head of the sail, exactly the same as the A-Class, Mosquito and F18. This brings the head of the mainsail almost level with the top of the mast. With this configuration the clew will also be 30 - 40mm higher allowing more room for mainsheet systems, mast rake and the skipper.

d. MAINSAIL

ix. The top of the sail shall not exceed (400) 950mm measured perpendicular to the head.

x. At a point on the leech 1000mm down from the head, the nearest point on the luff shall be not more than 790mm distant including the bolt rope.- DELETED

xi. Measured to include the bolt rope:
At the 1/4 leech point, the nearest point on the luff shall be not more than (2090) 2015mm distant.
At the 1/2 leech point, the nearest point on the luff shall be not more than (1820) 1780mm distant.
At the 3/4 leech point, the nearest point on the luff shall be not more than (1260) 1410mm distant.
At the 7/8 leech point, the nearest point on the luff shall be not more than 1095mm distant.

The 1/2 leech point shall be found by folding the head to clew and smoothing the sail flat.
The 1/4 and 3/4 leech points shall be found by folding the clew and the head to the 1/2 leech point and smoothing the sail flat.
The 7/8 leech point shall be found by folding the head to the 3/4 leech point and smoothing the sail flat.

xii. The distance from the head to the clew shall be not more than (7940) 7950 mm
xiii. The distance from the clew to the tack shall be not more than (2150) 2100mm measured to include the bolt rope.

xiv. The foot round, when smoothed out for measurement, shall be a maximum of (75) 50mm.

15. MAST
f. Measurement bands shall be painted round the mast such that the inner distance between bands is not greater than (8050) 8100mm. Measurement bands shall be in a colour contrasting with that of the spar and have a minimum width of 25mm.
 

Photos

If you have any photo's of the big head main to share with the rest of the fleet please send them in to have them posted here.

Thanks to Scot Machon for the great shot above at Foster