Size of Furling head sail.

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H4B

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By Genoa has gone baggy aft of the foam padded luff. I could have it re-cut for a 'couple hundred' .So we are not going quite so well to windward as we should.
I have spoken to my sail maker and we have a price for a nice new one made from above average dacron . No, I cant afford a radial cut laminate ,although I want one. Half as much again.

My question is how big should this sail be. At the moment I am thinking
130% ( a No2 ). I have discussed this with the sail maker , he obviously thinks I know what I am talking about and says its up to me but I am undecided and need some furthur guidance. Obviously I wouldn't want a smaller sail or do I ,say 120%, but what am I potentially losing by having a 130 as opposed to a full No1 at 145 ,(apart from the obvious 15%).
Any ideas?

Cheers
 
Don't know the boat myself, but I would have thought if it was nicely balanced as it is, (except for the baginess) why change and perhaps regret it?
A bigger overlap will move the Centre of Effort back and alter the Centre of Effort for the whole sail plan. You may be able to tune it to suit, but if it's not broke?
Just a new sail of the same size will probably make an enormous improvement anyway.

Just a point of view.
 
I have just ordered a 135% & had this size on the previous boat - you get a decent overlap/slot & its not too big to handle - & cheaper to buy!!!
 
I have a range of furling genoas - of these I find the biggest (150%) the least satisfactory. It is too heavy for light winds, and the shape is too poor when partly furled for heavy weather.

The 130% is a better compromise, I don't really notice the small reduction in sail area and it is a more flexible sail.

I'm actually considering going down in size to a 105%, while that will lose a bit of power I'm not sure even that will be noticeable and it should make the boat easier to handle in most conditions.
 
My genoa was 150% & I found that I had to start reefing when at F3 & the shape was awful.I had a new genoa & plumped for a 130% which is much better.I can hold full sail beating up to 22knots apparent & even a bit more.After discussion with sailmaker I plumped for a tri-radial in 7.03 oz high modulus polyester.This sets beautifully & I would buy from Hyde again.
 
Never found more than 130% overlap did more than provide a dodge in the racing hadicap rules. If it really is just that you have streached the area behing the luff what about having this sail cut down and a new luff put on to give say a 100% that will reef to about 70%. Trimming the luff will probably make it a flatter cut as wel so you should get a good heavy weather sail. The get a new sail for the range 130% - 100% which can be nice and light without risking it blowing out when the wind pipes up as you will go down to the old sail.
 
Recently bought a new 130 % from Crusader
its OK for the price sets well better in light weather than than laminated Gowen not the same quality as Gowen but 1/2 price.
Am overall pleased with what i have bought.
the Gowen laminated Tri-radial lasted 8 seasons & cost £1800 /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
"Bi Radial " cut Dracon from Crusader cost £ 1400 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I would tend to agree with the others that a smaller headsail may well be better for you. Much depends on your experience so far. ie Do you often sail with full jib or find more often you have a few rolls in it?
Do you race or are you happy to motor when weather is really light?

Certainly a smaller jib will perform far better when the wind comes up.
But obviously will be a bit poorer in light winds. Me, I like to hank on the jib of choice for the expected winds ie one that is perfect for the job. But I do like to race. olewill
 
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