Gennaker - Unidentified strong point.

[Roach1948]

At the weekend I picked up a second-hand Gennaker. I laid it out to check it over and measure it up and noticed that there was a wierd circular reinforced strong point halfway along the luff. It has two crossed-over webbing straps attached to it, as if something is meant to connect to it. The funny thing is that it is only on one side of the sail. What could it be for?

 

[Aja]

No expert on this - but some of the 'sportsboats' launch their gennakers from a chute in the bow.

I seen a line coming from the middle of the sail and through the chute - pull on the line while releasing the halyard and the sail dissapears up the chute.

Maybe it is a similar thing only the line attaches to the luff?

Donald

 

[flaming]

Possibly a retrieval line. Light line from the head, through that patch and back to the tack.

This way when you drop it you can pull this line to help gather the sail onto the deck.

 

[Roach1948]

Thanks for your ideas. I think it is for self-launching, although I think I can use it to retrieve as suggested. Might come in handy.

 

[Chris_G]

Concur - def a retrieval point - it was very common on dinghy sails, our old Mirror had one for pulling it back into the chute. How well that'll work with a large sail I'm not sure as lots of load, IMHO probably better stick with normal drop methods...

 

[Thistle]

Does the sail have a sailmaker's label? You could always give them a ring for a definitive answer.

 

[Roach1948]

Exactley what I did except they ofcourse cant remember the sail. They suggest it was designed to be retrieved in a chute, but they expected to have more than just one fitted. As I am using it on a classic I will retrieve the old fashioned way!

 

[stephenh]

It's obvious....

It's a reefing point .........