Genoa cars positioning

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Picks

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Morning all.

With regards to positioning the genoa cars, out sailing yesterday single handed just practising tacks ands gybes when i thought of the position of the genoa cars which were set 3/4's aft.I had all 140% genoa unfurled as pretty calm out. On much longer legs i would position them as to the point of sail but was wondering if there was a best position to suit windward and downwind sailing or am i just being lazy and should move them each time i change tack?

Thank you.
 
Picks said:
Morning all.

With regards to positioning the genoa cars, out sailing yesterday single handed just practising tacks ands gybes when i thought of the position of the genoa cars which were set 3/4's aft.I had all 140% genoa unfurled as pretty calm out. On much longer legs i would position them as to the point of sail but was wondering if there was a best position to suit windward and downwind sailing or am i just being lazy and should move them each time i change tack?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Yes you're being lazy (welcome to the club :D).
 
Picks said:
Morning all.

With regards to positioning the genoa cars, out sailing yesterday single handed just practising tacks ands gybes when i thought of the position of the genoa cars which were set 3/4's aft.I had all 140% genoa unfurled as pretty calm out. On much longer legs i would position them as to the point of sail but was wondering if there was a best position to suit windward and downwind sailing or am i just being lazy and should move them each time i change tack?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

As rough guide, move them for and aft till all your headsail tell tails are reacting about the same.

Try it on a close fetch you will best see the effect of the car position. The when you sheet in hard you will have to adjust.

When beating you do not need to adjust every tack, although when reaching it can generally help to move them forward... Remember to move them aft again before sheeting in hard or you knacker your sail, hence allot of people do not bother moving them.

Also Rolling reefing the head sail can have an effect as well.
 
Picks said:
Morning all.

With regards to positioning the genoa cars, out sailing yesterday single handed just practising tacks ands gybes when i thought of the position of the genoa cars which were set 3/4's aft.I had all 140% genoa unfurled as pretty calm out. On much longer legs i would position them as to the point of sail but was wondering if there was a best position to suit windward and downwind sailing or am i just being lazy and should move them each time i change tack?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

lift the plunger & install a tackle to pull the car forrard, the sheet will pull it back as req
 
You probably know this already, but set the sail according to the telltales. I have three pairs up the luff of the genoa. All three sets should be streaming pretty much whatever the point of sail. By watching them it soon becomes apparent that as the wind moves aft the cars move forward. When the upper leeward telltale lifts it is telling you that the car needs to go forward, and vice versa.

Don't make a big thing of it though, it doesn't make a massive difference to a cruising boat. I move ours forward if we are on a long reach but for lesser distances I don't bother.

We met a boat a couple of years ago that nearly lost the crew overboard when the skipper sent him on deck to move a car forward in very heavy conditions. A big wave swept him off his feet and he was lucky he managed to grab a stanchion. That is just going too far in my opinion.
 
Genoa cars

Thank you all for your replies. I have used the car adjustment track on a bavaria 36 and may consider fitting one. TBH i'm inclined to find a happy medium and only adjust if getting poor performance from head sail or on a long beat/run. I also don't fancy going forward to adjust when single handed in rougher weather!!
 
Given that preparation is the key to most aspects of single handed sailing - how about putting some marks on the tracks which correspond to positions that you've established work for various sailing conditions. Then, as you come up to a tack/gybe thats going to be long lasting, you move the lazy sheet car to the appropriate position. It may not be exactly right but it'd be better than leaving the cars in one place.
 
Be wary off the of the loads!!

There is a lot of load on the genoa sheet. Moving the car forward pulls the clew down... In effect you are taking in sheet... Like you will not do it without a lot of power....

If you want to move the car forward without tacking..... You need to take the weight of the genoa sheet first..... I have a short sheet with a snatch block and a hook... I put the hook to the clew and the snatch block on the toe rail at the best looking place... Take in on the rail sheet.... The let off the proper genoa sheet....


Or even better. ..... Simply leave the rail sheet in place and play with the sail shape between the two,,,, learned that one racing with a scratch crew...
 
You can move cars under load by 'towing' with a short piece of rope. When you bear away, to move the car fwd tie a rolling hitch around the sheet fwd of the car, tie a bowline round the car, and easing the sheet with the plunger pulled will tow the car fwd using the load from the sail. Once the car is in the best setting remove the towing strop and trim as normal.
 
KenMcCulloch said:
You can move cars under load by 'towing' with a short piece of rope. When you bear away, to move the car fwd tie a rolling hitch around the sheet fwd of the car, tie a bowline round the car, and easing the sheet with the plunger pulled will tow the car fwd using the load from the sail. Once the car is in the best setting remove the towing strop and trim as normal.
Click to expand...

Now that's a thumping good idea, I'll give that a try. Thanks! :)
 
little_roundtop said:
Now that's a thumping good idea, I'll give that a try. Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

Slight problem I can see is keeping the car still to get the pin into the track, assuming its that sort of car, when its in the right position. Variation on the theme is to use the rolling hitch down to a cleat, take the load off the sheet and move the car. Kinda depends what deck fittings you have available.
 
Depends on the boat and the condition of your sails it can make a big difference esp. when beating.

You are trying to achieve laminar air flow over the foresail and accelerate the air through the slot between the genoa and main.

As other have said try to get all the front genoa tell tails to break together if you luff up slightly. A tell tail on the genoa leech should flow straight back (indicating no eddies) - esp important when beating and no backwinding of the main.

It can be a complex subject and whole books have been written about it. Simplest way way is once holding a steady course to the wind try varying the genoa car position and see the visible effect on the sail and note the effect on boat speed (assuming a steady wind). When car is forward too much the leech is tight and the foot loose. When the car is back too much the foot is tight and the leech too loose.
 
alahol2 said:
Mine are set to fly the telltales correctly on a beat. They stay there.
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On a beat in about a force 3 I would say. I used to sail like that when I was with X wife (the worst point of single handed, I had some one to get in the way :eek:).

Now with SWMBO she will adjusts them if I do not :o.

Personally the easiest way is to think 1 step ahead. On Smaller boat move them when reaching (stand on Jib Sheet slide car), or before you tack or jibe....
 
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