Full-battened mainsails, like the one on the 78-foot Beowolf, require the right hardware to work with the compression loading of the battens. There are a lot of options available, both for refits and for new sail inventories.

The three S's of mainsail handling get a lot of attention. Rightfully so, too. Whether it's a small family sloop or a flat-out ocean racer, there are few troubles for a sailor that are worse than having difficulty setting, shortening, and striking the mainsail. To make it four S's, you might also throw in stowing.

On an old square-rigger, the majority of control lines were devoted to the three S's. The myriad lines on those vessels far exceeded the piles of "spaghetti" seen on modern race boats whose crews often appear to think that disorder is cool. It's not. It's dangerous.…