Changing genoas

[Picks]

Hello all,

I will be looking to change over my genoa sails next time i'm down on the boat ( colvic ufo 31 ). I have roller furling sytem and single head foil. As the boat is afloat and i'll be doing it on my own, are there any tips or advice from yourselves how to do this safely and avoid me going for a dip in the water!!

Many thanks

 

[rhumbunctious]

Hello all,

I will be looking to change over my genoa sails next time i'm down on the boat ( colvic ufo 31 ). I have roller furling sytem and single head foil. As the boat is afloat and i'll be doing it on my own, are there any tips or advice from yourselves how to do this safely and avoid me going for a dip in the water!!

Many thanks

Best to do it on a calm day. Unfurl the genoa and sheet it in firmly but not overly tight. Sit on the bow with legs dangling each side. Release halyard and tie a length of line to the end so you can raise the other genoa. Slowly pull the genoa down off the foil, passing it behind you, and giving the occasional tuck or fold to keep it together.

It helps to have a few lengths of rope at hand (or bungees) to bind the sail together every now and then as you lower it, if it's windy, so that the loose bit of sail doesn't get picked up by the wind.

Good luck.

 

[stevebrassett]

It may seem obvious, but make sure it isn't windy, and make sure you are head to what little wind there is.

I change the genoa on my 23-footer by applying these two rules and have never had a problem.

Oh, and be very careful when feeding the sail into the foil when hoisting - make sure it doesn't come out.

 

[Picks]

Thanks for the replies. I won't try to do it F5/6 then!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have a Spinlock pre-feeder for the genny luff which keeps it close to the foil, and means I can hoist from the cockpit without needing to feed the sail into the foil. Looks vaguely masculine...

 

[dt4134]

Take the halyard forward with you after having put it around a winch with the clutch open to control the drop. Providing it isn't going in the water or blowing a hoolie you can drop quickly and catch it and flick it inside the guardwires.

Old racing bowman's tip. Assuming you have the sail in a luff grove, just pinch the luff tape with your hand where it comes out of the groove and the sail will stop coming down. That gives you time to sort out any mess.

Hoisting on your own will be easy if your monkey balls are up to it. It helps to flake the new sail neatly and ensure the luff tape is all well forward so the sail doen't have to be dragged forward when you hoist. Keep a close eye on how the sail is going into the groove as you hoist and stop as soon as there's an issue.

 

[Tintin]

I do it regularly on my own. I use a snap block on the boom kicker fitting so the halyard can route to the bow from where it exits at the base of the mast, so I can haul up from the sharp end, but often the last bit needs the cockpit winch.

3 or 4 sail ties ready to go to stop the sail I've taken off taking a dip, and the one about to go on getting out of order.

I find having T, C, & H marked on the various genoas an immense help - I just did it with marker pen. (tack, head, clew)

Only time I had a nightmare was when I didn't change down from no 2 to no 3 when I knew I should, and half an hour later it was all a bit sketchy but it was fine in the end.

BTW I try to arrange it all so I can sit down so am less likely to get a side wipe in a gust.

Go for it - you'll work out what works best for you only by doing it.

 

[alahol2]

I know it's obvious but remember to fit the genoa sheets before raising the new genoa, otherwise you'll get more practice at lowering and raising than you wanted.

 

[rob2]

Last time I hoisted mine (single-handed) on the mooring it kept wrapping the halyard. I still can't explain why it did it, but I had to rig a slip line on the top swivel to stop it from rotating. It's all a bit of a handful unless you're on a swinging mooring, so lying head to wind, but it is possible. Practice a little meditation before you start and try to stay calm!

Rob.

 

[stav]

On my last boat I found that about 30knts was the most I could hoist a sail in to a foil single handed, over that I tore the top third out of the luff of the sail (twice) even with a good prefeeder on a new bit of bungee.

Now have hank on foresails because I can not afford a roller reefer for the new boat (westerly conway), however it is much easier with a sail that stays attached to something and either head straight to wind and drop asap or bearaway and drop it in the lee of the main by letting some pressure off the halyard, go forward with halyard gather foot and then drop on to the deck.

Once you have done it a couple of times no problems.

Good luck

If motoring make sure it is in netural the first time in case the sheet etal go over the side.....