What do you really need in a sail wardrobe to race well.

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dralex

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Let's assume that at some point I want to do a bit of offhsore racing and that I need to revamp my sail locker. I have a good new 130% tri radial genoa, a fairly good main ( could improve, but lots of cash), a good fresh mid weight spinnaker and a storm jib. I gave this some thought, and with the current sails, I'm reasonably well sorted from a Force 2 up to about a 6-7 before I have to start furling the genoa and losing some sail shape.

My question is what additional sails would be best to cover the wind extremes and still sail well, while staying within a sensible budget?
 
To race well, as opposed to competing with other bar props not to finish in the second half of the fleet?

Well, start by ditching the roller furler. You'll need a twin groove foil, with the following to go up it, as the breeze increases. Light number one. Heavy number one. Number two. Number three cut as a solent or spitfire. A number four, only if you're prepared to go racing no matter what the wind strength. To go with that lot a genoa track (poss more than one per side) and cars to let you sheet them perfectly. You might also want a code zero for really light airs.

Coloured sails - a full size kite, plus a reaching kite, maybe 85% the size of the full kite and cut flatter. Possibly a blast reacher - a heavy, small spinnaker for strong winds.

That mainsail will have to be relegated to cruising use, you'll need a new racing one, 3 slab reefs, plus cunningham and flattener, that you can tweak into any shape the breeze requires. You do have a full width traveller, powerful vang and adjustable backstay, don't you.

Of course, you should only go to the top racing lofts for these sails, people that can demonstrate consistent racing success with your sort of boat under their sails. Your sail maker will become your new best friend. Despite that, expect to replace one or more sails every two or three seasons.

The good news is, you can keep your storm jib.
 
Crew that know how to trim sails.... watching some of the fastnet boats yesterday some had not got a clue.

I know it's not the answer you were looking for. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi,

To race you will need to think through why you want to do it. If you want to sail efficiently then begin with a good main and #3 or working jib. The reason is that often you may be short handed and this gives you the best option in most windy conditions. For full crew and a good breeze you will need a heavy #1. I agree that you should lose the roller for racing and go to a twin foil such as Tuff Luff. Next look at a lightweight genoa for headsail and we use only 2 spinnakers an AP 0.75 and AP 1.5 off the wind. The sailmaker is critical and I can highly recommend Jeremy White for a sensible cost performance balance. Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I seem to recall that during our campagne to get into the ac team in the 70's we unloaded all the sails from Gunfleet and there were about 20 !! cannot really remember what they were but with all that weight 'tis no wonder we didn't make the team!!

Drifter
High cut reacher
No1 light
No1 Hvy
No2 (Did we have a light and a heavy No2??)
No3
No4
No5 or storm jib (We only ever used it once on the way back to Hamble from Plymouth and we sure needed it 60kts across the deck)

Tall boy
Big boy
Light Spinny
Heavy Spinny
Starcut (or superstarcut?) spinny
Extra light spinny (was that a Ghoster??)

and of course a mainsail

That's 15 or so. Cannot remember the rest (If there were more) I bloody ought to tho' as I called the shots in the 75 trial series...
We took 'em all out before the inclining tests and they nearly sank the Port Hamble pontoon!!
C y'all in Cherbourg
Cheers Bob E...
 
Surely your choice of wardrobe will be dictated by the Rating System under which you will be handicapped?

If you are racing under IRC (formerly Channel Handicap), then a headsail furler is definitely viable (especially if you're short-handed), as your rating is adjusted for it. You're allowed a No 1 and a No 4 (ish) without penalty. Many furlers have twin grooves.

I would have thought that, racing a D34 offshore with only 2 up, you would have your hands full changing headsails with a Tuff-Luff, as the sail blows (washes?) around once free of the foil, and the D34 is fine-bowed & sensitive to crew on the foredeck.

Also, if it pipes up, I wouldn't like to contemplate having to lose the kite. Offshore. Only 2 up . . . . .

If you're using a performance-based handicap, like Portsmouth Yardstick, your options are much wider, but they'll cane your rating if you win !
 
That's really useful- thanks- it will be IRC, and I like the idea of just getting the number 4. that was an idea I'd already had and keep the furler.
 
It would appear that you are joining the ranks of the 2handers....marvellous idea. Forget ditching the furling genoa, the size is perfect for offshore, it will get you by in light winds and take you up to the high twenties apparant on the wind. Peeps who want lots of sails should try changing No 1 to No 2 offshore 2 handed at night, not fun! You simply finish up with the wrong sail up, too often.

What I would suggeest that you are missing is a hanked on working jib. Get yourself a removable inner fore-stay for both this and the storm jib, preferably with a deck fitting at the aft end of the anchor locker. This sail should happily take you from the high twenties to fifty odd apparant, mine does.

Spinnaker wise ideally you will need a half ounce floater, a 0.9 symetrical and a 1.5 chicken chute. The last one may be asymetric, you are not likely to gybe it in heavy conditions 2 up and it will double up as a reacher. Preferably this will be 80 -85% fo the medium kite.


Been here myself. PM me if you fancy a chat and I look forward to seeing you on the Triangle next year!
 
Re: can any one tell me what the fishing is like now in scotland .eng.

hi all i am come ing home for a long holiday soon and was wondering if any one could tell me how the fishing is over there these days.i useualy hire a boat in tarbert scotland for a month or two also in wales and devon i hope to be home for about 2 years any information would be greatly appreciated
 
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