johnv@ittvax.UUCP (John L. Varanelli) (12/15/83)
Sailmakers and boatbuilders seem to refer to the sail carrying
potential of (at least) sloop rigs by quoting dimensions using
the following labels:
E = mailsail foot
J = foretriangle base
P = mainsail luff
I = foretriangle height
Does anyone out there know the derivation of these labels? This isn't really
a trivia question because I sure don't know the answer. Practical old me
would have labeled these things Mf, Fb, Ml, Fh (respectively) which perhaps
leads me to believe that E, J, P, I have their roots in some other language
than english. Anybody know? Are there more of these labels for other other
rigs (like how do you describe the mizzen foot dimension... surely not mf)?
Idly curious on a winter's day.
-- john varanelli (...decvax!ittvax!johnv)