RE: sails and sailmaking question
I'm interested in hearing more, Mike.
The sails on my 12 and my 36/600 were designed for the boats at an Anapolis sail loft a long while ago and sewn up on a home machine no boards, jigs, etc... the panel geometry was designed, lofted, and cut and then the panels were joined.
I think it was a little like meteorolgy... a bit of science mixed with a bit of art. The artsy part wasn't passed on to me, so an approach like yours sounds like it might be good as a doable way to simulate it