A trick for those New to the game ....

[Guest]

So you have that beautiful headsail hoisted, but it doesn't seem to draw ... shape seems to be out of design .....

First thing is to check the sheet track and point that the sheet meets the deck. A lot of boats are designed with runner tracks and fixed points that are too far forward, or just a compromise. Especially when you furl and reduce the headsail it gets worse in shape ....

OK what to do ? Try this ....... Take the sheet OUT of the track or fixed eye ..... lead it to a block way back near the stern and then back to the sheet winch. Now the lead is too far aft and the sheet pulls the foot of the sail more than the leech. Take a short length of line and tie a snaplink / or loop in the end .... this passes over the sheet and then down to the original sheet point on the deck. Harden the line down to bring the sheet down to the right angle to the sail and then you should have a correctly shaped set sail. The best way to do it .... rig it all up both sides .... sheet in the sail and then pull down the short line. When tacking, leave the short line as is and repeat on the other side. Until you furl / change the headsail size, you should have now the perfect sheeting angle. Of course as you prgress with this .. you can alter to depend on wind conditions .... slack leech in light winds, tighter in windier conditions etc.

Anyone else with suggestions / tips ?????

Nigel

 

[Sammy]

I had my new Genoa cut with a high clew so that when it is furled, the position on the track stays the same. This turned out to be a great success. Needs a bit of patience to get it right I drew it out on bits of paper and then finally rolled a paper sail around a pencil to make sure it would work. Sailsdirect.com madfe it up for me at a very competitive price.

 

[ccscott49]

I do believe the arrangement you are talking about is a barbour hauler, not sure about the spelling, I have them permanently rigged with snatch blocks on my boat and were/are used on boats as mine without genoa tracks. Very effective they are and of course infinitely adjustable.

 

[Guest]

Great, but many don't want to spend any more money / and the trick I gave here actually improves a standard sail .... its common on many older race boats. In fact its done all the time on my 1/4 ton cup boat .....

I thought it may jigger some others to give hints tips and tricks for new-comers .......

 

[Sammy]

Sorry you are absolutly right,
I do the same thing with an old sail I had given me and it saves a fortune. It can also be useful to change the sail tack position from the cockpit if set up correctly.

 

[Guest]

The line that I use to alter the sheeting angle is led back to a second locking cam cleat next to the sheet winch. This then allows me to alter its setting from the cockpit........ full for light wind, hard and flat for higher / close pinched to the wind.
A couple of quids worth of rope is far cheaper than a new genny !