Genoa / Jib difference

[Tintin]

For my Leisure 27 I currently have a light weight no. 1 genoa, a heavier weight no. 2 genoa which i use most of the time, a no. 3 genoa which i use when the wind gets a bit much, and a storm jib which i have yet to use in anger.

The 3 genoas go on the furler. The storm jib hanks on to an inner stay.

I recently got 3 new sails in a bargain job lot from someone that used to work for the now defunct Cobramold that built the Leisures - a new main, a no. 2 genoa, and a no. 1 jib. The fore sails are all hanks so am gonna get them changed for the furler, with a uv strip.

My question is about the no. 1 jib. Without laying out all my sails to check, i am guessing the new no. 1 jib (that is how it is labelled) is not a no. 1 genoa. It is certainly in the same heavier weight cloth as my current and new no. 2 genoa. It packs smaller than the no. 1 genoa, but is similar packed size to the no. 2 genoa. And it has a short steel rope with eyes at the head which makes me think the luff is shorter.

From what i have read jib sails (as opposed to genoas) are cut higher on the foot with the clew higher.

So i am surmising that the sail area order for me is now. No. 1 genoa, no2 genoa, no 1 jib, no 3 genoa, storm jib.

What do you reckon?

 

[sarabande]

that's a bit like having 7 gears in an ordinary car ! And do you change sails on the furler at sea ?

Effectively 4 foresails, and that's a lot of storage space. To justify that number, the sails should be designed for a narrowly overlapping windspeed band, and that sounds like a racing boat rather than a cruiser. Is there any way yu can sort (by area, sail build quality, condition, etc) the sails and use only three ? Otherwise having a furler seems a bit redundant.

 

[Neil]

that's a bit like having 7 gears in an ordinary car ! And do you change sails on the furler at sea ?

Effectively 4 foresails, and that's a lot of storage space. To justify that number, the sails should be designed for a narrowly overlapping windspeed band, and that sounds like a racing boat rather than a cruiser. Is there any way yu can sort (by area, sail build quality, condition, etc) the sails and use only three ? Otherwise having a furler seems a bit redundant.

I thought the whole idea of a furler was to have only one sail? and live with the slightly degraded performance of a part-furled genoa for the benefits of convenience?

 

[VicS]

What do you reckon?

Too many sails!

2 options IMO:

1. Choose the most useful Genoa, one that is an adequate size but sets well when partially furled. Sell the others . Buy a cruising chute or similar for light weather
2. Remove the furler. Select an appropriate range of sail sizes . Convert them to hank ons. Sell the surplus and the furling gear

Remember some alteration/recutting may be necessary to convert from hank-on to furling and vice versa

 

[prv]

I thought the whole idea of a furler was to have only one sail? and live with the slightly degraded performance of a part-furled genoa for the benefits of convenience?

Only one sail bent on at a time, but some people keep two on board so they can choose which to have on the furler before setting off (the third in Sarabande's advice would be the hank-on storm jib).

Pete

 

[Tintin]

that's a bit like having 7 gears in an ordinary car ! And do you change sails on the furler at sea ?

Effectively 4 foresails, and that's a lot of storage space. To justify that number, the sails should be designed for a narrowly overlapping windspeed band, and that sounds like a racing boat rather than a cruiser. Is there any way yu can sort (by area, sail build quality, condition, etc) the sails and use only three ? Otherwise having a furler seems a bit redundant.

The plan is to replace the old baggy no. 2 genoa with the new no. 2.

The no.3 has seen better days too and i was thinking the no. 1 jib could replace that.

The leisure 27 can be a bugger with weather helm and also like to be able to point, so usualy
If i need more than 4 rolls i change down a gear to get rid of the bagginess.

And i do it while on passage - i have quite a slick practiced way now to do it on my own without too much terror

Basically i will end up with 3 foresails and the storm jib.

 

[alahol2]

From what i have read jib sails (as opposed to genoas) are cut higher on the foot with the clew higher.

Strictly speaking a jib is a foresail with no overlap, ie it's the same size or smaller than the foretriangle. So if the sails are named correctly the jib is likely to be smaller than any of the genoas.

 

[William_H]

I can see OP s dilema cos I love a bargain however these may not have been the bargain it first seemed. I expect it will cost somewhat to have the jibs modified with bolt rope for the furler. Make sure your sail maker gets the right sized bolt rope.
As said most people find it a pain changing jibs on a furler so you will likely end up with one permanent of the furler.
You do need to measure the new sails to see exactly what you have not just in area but shape re height of clue.
If you like using the no 2 on the furler and your existing no 2 is a bit baggy then yes have it modified and use it. Just stow away the other sails until you get the urge to either mod them to bolt rope or sell them. Just don't rush sailing experience will dictate what you do. There is no obvious answer.
If it is easy you might even like to remove the furler and try hanked on. Though many disagree I persevere with hank on for the better performance upwind.
good luck olewill.

 

[Daydream believer]

Referring to the op's comment re clew height. sailmakers often cut the clew a bit higher on a furling sail so it lays better on the furler. Ie without a great bunch at the bottom. Also the angle of the sheet does not have to be altered so much when part furled so the tracks need not be so long

 

[charles_reed]

Strictly speaking a jib is a foresail with no overlap, ie it's the same size or smaller than the foretriangle. So if the sails are named correctly the jib is likely to be smaller than any of the genoas.

To complete "100% foretriangle".

Whilst the builder described my solent as a "blade jib" the sailmaker marked it as #3 genoa.