non furling Genny on a furlex....

[Matata]

We have on a sigma 33 a deep Genny. At the end of the day we roll it up using a furled. Rather than reef the sail by furling we simply change to a smaller sail. If we did buy a flatter cut benny that would furl well, would it affect our performance much and how? Many thanks Guinness

 

[Quandary]

Deep? do you mean in cut, or full length luff? Our Sigma 33 (OOD) had just a twin groove foil for changes so no experience with furlex on it but our Sigma 38 had a Furlex with removable drum so that we could use full length sails for racing, we also had a furling No.1 & 2 neither of which were fast but more comfortable for cruising. Our current boat, a Finngulf 33 has been raced sucessfully with furling headsails ( No1 and blade) but it has the furling drum below deck which means that the sails are full length. Like you, I do not like to sail sail with partly furled sails, still active enough despite my decrepitude to do sail changes. Reefed headsails are rarely efficent no matter how carefully they are cut or how good the luff padding is and the distorted loads of a partly rolled sail are bad for shape and durability. A Sigma 33 will carry a no1 up to about 20 knots, more with a reef in the main or a flat cut profile so you will not have to change down often.
However lots of people do what you are planning but not so often on Sigma 33s.

 

[dunedin]

A well cut genoa with foam luff (essential) should have minimal impact on performance, and work well even when part reefed.
Our race No 1 is a laminate sail but is just to long to use on the furler. If now lives in the loft and never regretted the change. The laminate No.3 Solent jib is a beautiful sail - but only used once as can't be bothered the hassle of changing sails as foam luff reeling works so well, even to windward.

 

[Matata]

Thanks for the thoughts.More welcome! Back to the pub to discuss further. Regards guinness