Sheet size for lightweight asymmetric?

skyflyer

skyflyer

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Jan 2011
Messages
1,433
Location
Worcester, UK
Visit site
Just bought a new (to me) lightweight (0.6oz) asymmetric for light wind distance cruising in my 32ft boat.

I now need to buy some suitable lines for sheets and a tackline and I am wondering what size/type would be best, given that the plan is to use this sail in winds under 8kts and that I have no poles or guys etc, so it will be free flying and presumably the less weight hanging off the clew, so much the better?

I guess that strength isnt really a problem, given the speeds involved, and that diameter for handling might be more relevant?

The headsail sheets are 14mm, as spec'd by the boat manufacturer, and I think these are that size principally for handling not for strength -and for a good fit in the winch self-tailer!
 
I have a cruising chute with my 35ft boat and all lines are 10mm braid over braid. All works well and the lines are easy to handle.
 
I've moved the lines on my 10.1m (33 feet in old money) boat to 10mm for halyards and sheets. Spinnaker lines are 8mm.

The boat came with 12 mm lines that were too big for the self tailer.
 
Frayed Knot said:
If you can live with not being able to gybe, sailing in very light airs can be improved by using only a single sheet, thus more or less halving the weight on the clew.
Click to expand...

That’s what I do on our asym (42 footer with masthead rig so quite large). We use an 8mm sheet and always have it on the winch so that we don’t have handling issues with the small size but are able to sail in very light winds without the weight of the sheet collapsing the sail.
 
Frayed Knot said:
If you can live with not being able to gybe, sailing in very light airs can be improved by using only a single sheet, thus more or less halving the weight on the clew.
Click to expand...
Yes i had planned to start that way anyway as we are only ever two handed and t.b.h. I only intend to spend the time and effort of getting the kite set up (and subsequently brought down!) if we have a decent run to make it worthwhile. Short tacking (or rather short gybing!) wont be part of the plan!

This leads to a supplementary question of what size/strength of block would be sensible to bring the sheet back to the cockpit? As I plan to use the genny and main to blanket the kite whilst hoisting and dousing I cant use the existing headsail blocks. I'm not quite sure what load to expect on the sheet! (which of course is almost doubled onto the block if it is turned back almost 180 deg). I could just cleat it off to the aft cleat I suppose but dont like the idea of anything that cant be quickly adjusted or released!
 
Fro light airs, we have a pair of light sheets, though we often only use one.
They are 7mm (IIRC) tapered to 3mm.
Turning block is a dinghy type 'auto ratchet'.
Once it becomes an issue holding onto it, it's time to change up to a 12mm kite sheet through the proper turning blocks on a proper winch.

Tapered sheets are quite easy to make, you can often find enough line for the thick end in the 'rope ends' bin, and the thin stuff is quite cheap. You don't handle the thin part under load, it would be like a cheesewire!
The thin part should not go into the block either.
You will want gloves for the 7mm part!
 
lw395 said:
Fro light airs, we have a pair of light sheets, though we often only use one.
They are 7mm (IIRC) tapered to 3mm.
Turning block is a dinghy type 'auto ratchet'.
Once it becomes an issue holding onto it, it's time to change up to a 12mm kite sheet through the proper turning blocks on a proper winch.

Tapered sheets are quite easy to make, you can often find enough line for the thick end in the 'rope ends' bin, and the thin stuff is quite cheap. You don't handle the thin part under load, it would be like a cheesewire!
The thin part should not go into the block either.
You will want gloves for the 7mm part!
Click to expand...

When racing we used to use 4mm kevlar - when it became uncomfortable - you changed sheets. The tension were so low you did not need a winch. We kept them on those yo-yo fishing drum things.

You need to be careful sailing down wind - apparent wind can be very pleasant - until its not (with 4mm sheets!)

I've still got the kevlar sheets, or most of them - I find the occasional use for 4mm kevlar.

Jonathan
 
Very true about the apparent wind, our asy can take the apparent wind from near zero to 10 knots in the blink of the helm's eye.
The helm needs to keep his eye on the job!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top