Mainsheet Load Calculator

E  Foot length of main in feet
P  Luff length of main in feet
V  Apparent wind speed in knots
D  Distance from aft end of boom to
mainsheet attachment point in feet (* see note below)
M  Mainsheet load in pounds

©2002 by Joseph Oster - All Rights Reserved.

NOTES:

  1. * "D" is actually the distance from the clew ("E") and would be a negative number if the mainsheet attaches aft of the clew.
     
  2. This calculator uses the following formula suggested by Harken:
     
    M = (E^2 x P^2 x 0.00431 x V^2) / ( sqrt(P^2 + E^2) x (E - D) )
     
    Source: www.harken.com/blocks/loads.pdf
     
  3. An alternate method from AYRS has been suggested using Sail Area (SA), Camber and Leech Sag. If one assumes camber to be 12.5% and leech sag to be 6.5%, the formula can be simplified into:

    Clew load = SA x V^2 / 100

    Result of that formula, assuming SA = (E * P) / 2:

Also: Ideal Boat Hull Calculator

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