rigging the genoa and a thousand words

[EASLOOP]

Thank you all very much for your further input to the preventer issue. I have a lot of things to try and see what happens.
Now for the next dumb question: When rigging the Genoa should the sheets come back to the cockpit on the OUTSIDE of the shrouds or the INSIDE?

 

[Skyva_2]

OUTSIDE!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Uusally outside.

However, we used to race a boat where we would run the sheets inside for beating to windward, and then have a spare 'reaching sheet' that we would hook on for offwind work.

I suspect that most people when cruising wouldn't bother with such refinement. 'Outside' is probably the answer!

 

[tillergirl]

Outside is my guess. There's two EA's on the moorings above me so I can check. Is there anything else deckwise I can check on for you.

 

[EASLOOP]

Thought as much. Thanks for the info.
Tillergirl: Two EA's in the same place? - I told Otty Bird she was not alone in this world.
Thank you for your offer: My EA has a wooden mast that is swept aft a noticeable amount from the level of the top spreaders. Is this normal? or should I be looking to tension the rigging to straighten the mast up?
Q2 I have two forestays, a heavy one and a light one behind it. The two stays run parallel to each other about 3" apart. At the bow roller end they are connected together with a kidney shaped pivoted bracket. Havn't got a clue what that is all about. Do all EA's have this.
Hope this lot isn't asking too much.

 

[reeac]

With any boat you want the genoa sheets to have a clear run from clew to cockpit or side deck although that run may be different depending upon the point of sailing eg. close hauled, reaching or running in which case give priority to the close hauled requirements as that's when sheet tension will be highest.

 

[tillergirl]

I'll nip out a bit later and get the launchman to stop alongside for a good look. Post later.

 

[BAtoo]

Genoa sheets almost always outside shrouds.

Twin forestays - which is what I think you have - allow you to change headsails more easily by rigging the new sail on the second stay before dropping the original. However I thought the stays were generally the same size???

Swept back mast - should be the designed "pre-bend"; unless its awooden mast thats been warped/damaged - hope not.
Rigging should be pretty tight to stop the mast moving when sailing and stop it falling off to leeward which reduces pointing ability; also to stop it "panting/wobbling" when running. IMHO most boats rigging is too slack rather than too tight and loos rigging is worst for the boat. Various guides about; her's one:- http://www.zsparsuk.com/rigtune.htm
(no connection w z-spars but it seems a pretty clear & concise guide)

 

[Salty John]

Agree with all that. Seems strange to have a heavy and light stay on a twin forestay set up. A twin forestay arrangement theoretically allows you to carry twin headsails for running, but you need to check tangs and fittings on a regular basis because the alternating loads cause a lot of movement. Also, as BAtoo says, you can hank on the new sail without dropping the one in use. And, finally, twin forestays gives you redundancy, but only to the extent that a wire breaking doesn't mean loss of the mast; the connection at top (maybe) and bottom is common.

 

[oldsaltoz]

<<At the bow roller end they are connected together with a kidney shaped pivoted bracket. Havn't got a clue what that is all about>>

This bit of tackle is just to even the tension between the two forestays.

Hope this helps.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[tillergirl]

Do you want to PM me with an e-mail - one was ashore having just been sold but two others were on their moorings and I have shot off a few diggi piccies which I can send you. Both have a little mast rake aft although the tapering of the mast does suggest its an optical illusion to an extent. Neither have twin forestays but you will see their stem arrangements which sound similar to yours. Think I agree with BAtoo.

Good day on the Blackwater today 18-25 knots of wind before the front went through so excellent sailing.

 

[Guest]

Twin forestays .... usually of same gauge ... unusual to have a heavy one and a light one ...

Maybe you have correct "light" one and a heavier "heavy" one ?

My Race boat had similar arrangement - but both stays of same gauge ... Now many people will tell you that you can run hanks up one and have second spare for changing sail !! Ha Ha !! Actually if you do that - you will find the genny luff curve significantly .... It is actually advised to alternate the hanks on each stay - to give extra support to the luff.

YES - if wind is lightish and you expect to change sails during a race etc. because of the light winds - then you can hank to one stay.

Why does the luff curve so much compared to a single stay ? Because the tension in the two stays adds up and exceeds loading designed for mast ... the loading is split between the two stays - so when only one stay used for sail - it gives more. I am sure that there will now be posts saying I'm talking "rubbish" .... OK - try and see ... you will immediately see the difference .....

I didn't win regattas with this rig for nought !!

If you look closely at the luff of the genny here - you can see the hanks onto both stays at alternates .......

Here look again closely - its while we are rigging her up for season after launch - the two stays can just be made out to the triangle fitting on top of the bottlescrew at bow ....

 

[William_H]

The jib sheet should always be run for minimum chafe on the stays. So it may be genoa outside heavy weather jib inside. having said that I have recently had some success with aheavy wind jib where by running it inside the stays there is a pull in toward the centre of the boat giving better pointing upwind. I do however find itr usefull to hhave additional sheets running outside stays and to the gunwhale forward of normal sheeting point which holds the jib really nicely off the wind (reach). just experiment.
I have never tried twin forestays. You need all the tension you can get on the forestay with the sail hanked on to stop forestay sag. Any additional forestay would reduce the tension on the one with sail hanked on so I really can't see a usefull way to amnage the problem.

good luck........... olewill

 

[Guest]

Forestay sag ... that\'s what I said !

Twin stays is a great idea - but in practice doesn't actually work so well ... as the idea of tensioning both to the limits needed to stop sag - would overstress the mast / rig....... the moment you hank on and set a sail ... That is why the hanks are placed on both stays ...

The only advantage then really is redundancy - if one stay gives out ...

Another post gave suggestion of twin gennys with this twin stay idea - I would not be the one to try it .... the division and stress of the two stays on the rig would be difficult to imagine !