List your requirements for a new genoa here..

[FullCircle]

I know the obvious, but what do you ask for in the specification for a new sail?

 

[Norman_E]

One thing I am having done on my new Genoa is the fitting of a sacrificial piece of dacron around the foot of the sail at the point where it rubs on the shrouds when sheeted in really tight. I marked the position on the first sail, and the sailmakers are adding it this winter. They say that dacron is better for the purpose than simply doubling the sunbrella sacrificial strip at that point.

 

[npf1]

If a furling sail, all the reef points marked so thay can be easily seen, day and night, from the cockpit.
Lots of telltales and some way of minimizing the chances of them sticking.
Leechline adjustment that works/holds.
Some reflective and or/orange material added somewhere.

 

[captainslarty]

again, one that works, Chris Jeckell knows more about sails than I do, so I tell him my use, he makes the sail.
To the above poster ??? ... I presume you mean markings as a guide when furling ?

Surely it is better to just roll away as much as you want to balance.. why have marks ?

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]


Surely it is better to just roll away as much as you want to balance.. why have marks ?

[/ QUOTE ]

By having marked amounts you can preset the cars to a known position. Very useful if you don't have cockpit adjustable cars.

 

[captainslarty]

you mean you MOVE them lol... ????? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

never bother personally..

 

[npf1]

Captainslarty - see your point, but IMHO it's good to be able to say to others onboard, "furl to the second line" etc. Plus, I can mark the track for approx where the cars should be moved to eg, "furl to red line, move the cars to the red line etc". Hope that makes sense.

Often not everyone onboard understands these things and this way keeps it v.simple.

Plus it saves me doing all the graft myself!!!

 

[captainslarty]

you have crew too ???

seriously, yes I have moved them occasionaly.. on a biscay we never touched them the whole way.. on a competative boat I can see the logic, and I fully understand sail trim, just can be bothered lol... if shes doing between 5.5 and 6.5, not heeling much and they look fine, I leave well alone.
The only thing I need to add is ouboard tracks as our guard rails were raised to 33 inches. we get chaff on the sheet (Normally wrapped), the outer tracks will be the best option.. and, gentlemen dont go to windward, if at ALL possible.
with outer tracks we will fit cockpit adjustable blocks. but the inner ones are not worth bothering with on my boat.

 

[flaming]

Fair enough, but consider that with a well reefed genoa your car will need to go forward considerably. Otherwise the top will twist off something horrid, and the flogging will damage the sail. Especially on a longer trip!

 

[Carolwildbird]

Don't forget the flourescent telltails for night sailing!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

(courtesy of goosewing)

 

[captainslarty]

or just use the inner stays'l ???

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[FAITIRA]

If clew height/leach length is worked out, it is possible to get the geometry such, that the sheeting angle stays pretty well the same, you don,t have a deck sweeper, but it,s very convenient not to have to move the cars.

 

[captainslarty]

Carol...... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Can you pm me the original photo that the cartoon was designed from, and, if it is to scale, can you send your telephone number...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I dont know if Suzy will be the ruin of you or visa versa lol.

Joe

 

[flaming]

Yes it is possible. But pretty much every new AWB sold these days comes with a deck sweeper.
And you do lose a lot of area and light wind performance. Moving cars seems a small price to pay for the ability to make good progress in light winds!
If you find yourself moving them a lot, get a proper car puller, one of the most under rated bits of kit!

 

[captainslarty]

the deck sweepers are hideous imho... the twist over the rails is aweful.
we specced the genny to be cut so the foot is 36" ABOVE the deck, increased the percentage J by 10% to accomoadte light airs. the original Mizzen was 6" short of the boom end, so had Chris sort it to full size with ONE reef point to accomodate / balance the genny if needed, it wasn't btw... but is great in a heave to situation or to swing the arse under sail with no way on...
no worries in light airs at all.. we CAN fly Genny, stays'l, Main, Mizzen, Mizzen Stays'l, even put the chute up lol.. light airs but light airs performance is not a problem for us (Much to my surprise I must admit !)

Fair points on the AWB's Flaming, understood. Light airs performance for many is more of a learning need, as opposed to the boat design / sail layout. The other REAL benefit of a yankee, or high cutting, is visibility.. I wouldnt use a sweeper again if at all possible.

Joe..

 

[ditchcrawler]

My original genny was 150% & I had to reef fairly early thus giving a crap shape.I specified a 135% for my new one(it is a bit less actually because I wanted the foot high enough to see under) & I went for a triradial in a better dacron instead of a laminate.I had footmarks for rolling to a specific point so I can adjust the genoa cars(I like having bits of string to pull ) although I have hardly had to reef the genny this year at all.

 

[FAITIRA]

I think we are doing very different kinds of sailing, I will settle for a bit less sail area and less car shifting, I don,t race this boat, ease is more important for me short or single handed.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

A UK loft.

 

[flaming]

Fair enough!

I still stand by the fact that if you add a good set of moveable cars with a block and tackle puller system you will move them all the time and sail faster, more comfortably and make your sails last longer!

 

[Sans Bateau]

[ QUOTE ]
get a proper car puller, one of the most under rated bits of kit!

[/ QUOTE ]

Having had towable cars now on current and last boat, I too could not live without them!