Batten

Battens are wooden or plastic rods that are in mostly horizontal pockets on the sail, mostly mainsail, foresail or jib rare, plugged in, to optimize the shape of the sail and to enlarge on the triangular shape also.

We distinguish short battens, the only stabilize the leech of the sail, and to the mast through battens issuing the leech especially in large sailing catamarans, racing boats, junks, and surf sailing at a given mast and boom length and thus increase the sail area. Thus, more and more effective sail area can be used. Restriction of the exhibition mostly arise through the backstay. Why have some ships regatta no backstay but only backstage in order to exhibit the mainsail maximum can. Thereby profiled battens are often used to bend forward more easily than in the back to allow an optimal sail profile.

Restrictions on battens arise in particular by furling. Therefore, there are constructions with vertical battens to achieve a compromise between Einrollbarkeit and stabilization of the leech. There are also recently called rolling slats made of spring steel that can be wrapped around the furler. This Triradiale sail cuts and modern designs are possible.

• Sail
• Windsurfing