Hi,

The batten technology has come a long way since the 1980's ... basically then you had the Hobie "Saturn" fiberglass battens and the "foam" battens used in the Nacra's and Prindles at that time. The "Saturn" battens were/are basically indestructable but must be "shaped" by filing/sanding/grinding ... a itchie job. The foam battens of that era could give you a nice sail shape but .... very delicate ... hence the cry "Don't land in the sail ... please don't land in the ... oh sh-t..."

The "Rath" battens (blue/white filler) made in South Africa were the first epoxy battens that were almost indestructable ... you just couldn't get them when you were not allowed to import them anymore to the USA in the early 90's.

But since the late 90's on you can get epoxy battens that are very durable (gray epoxy/black foam)... I had Tony Arrends/RacerX Sails measure my P-19MX sail and order me a set of battens for it.

Here's my tale of ...

We doing the PSA Overnight Regatta ... after turning around Sandy Point Light and headed downwind back up the bay we put the spin up ... passing through the monohull fleet like they were bi-planes and we are the jet ... big micro-burst .... literly drives my P-19 under water in a blink and over we go .... so here we are over on our side trying to gather up the spin and get it in it's tramp bag (no "girlie" snuffer for my boat ....) .... and I'm watching this A1 monohull bearing down on us .... and that monohull with this big spin up is pushing a bow-wave that is spilling up and over onto the foredeck of this big boat ... and as they pass us two things happened ... first the bow-wave hit us just rolling down our mast .... snap, snap, snap, snap .... every batten except the bottom one .... then the hail " ... Do you require assistence ..." My reply ..... " No, I don't think I need your assistence" .... *##^*# .... you've done enough already, D-mn it .....

We were done ... time to head for the beach ...

.... But that ment we were safely making nacho's w/ melted cheese over the campfire, drinking cold beers that evening when the THUNDERSTORMS hit w/ more lightning strikes then I could count all over the Chesapeake Bay ....

Harry
H18Mag/P19MX
Fleet 54/CRAC