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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

1092.0. "Genoas?" by ABE::HASKELL () Fri Jan 06 1989 08:53

    Well my note about a prop cage generated a lot of comments and I
    thank you all for your inputs. 
    
    How about a new subject?
    
    Genoas.
    
    Being rather new to sailing (not having sailed for 36 years before
    buying my 30" Pearson) I need some help in understanding what a
    Genoa is and does.
    
    I have a 150% Genoa that came with the boat. I haven't even taken
    it out of the bag. Scared, I guess.
    
    I have felt that it is two much for me to handle.
    
    My furling extrusion has two grooves, and as I was told, "you can
    bend on the Genoa with the Jib set". What? 
    
    I don't sail in the trades. I sail of the coast of Maine. What do
    I need two head sails for?
    
    When do you use the Genoa?
    
    Don't you take the Jib down first before bending on the Genoa?
    
    Don't you have to wind on more line onto the furling drum before
    winding up the Genoa?
    
    This is about the only piece of equipment on this boat that has
    me confused.
    
    After I bought the boat last October, I singlehanded her twice before
    sailing her down to York for the winter layup. The first time I
    singlehanded her, I was sailing in 6 - 7 foot seas with a single
    reef.
    
    Thanks
    
    Paul

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1092.1	Genoa formulas elsewhere	CSSE::COUTURE	Abandon shore	`Fri Jan 06 1989 13:12`	21
	Ah yes, you bought her in October. That means you haven't done the dog days of August when 10 knots of wind is a blessing. I'm sure the racers will provide much grist regarding the double- groved foil on your headstay. Being a simple coastal cruiser, I have two headsails: 1. A 110% genoa that I fly in the spring and fall and 2. a 150% genoa for mid summer. It's a royal pain in the (insert your favorate portion of the anatiomy) to change headsails with roller furling, so I leave one or the other up and reel it in when the wind picks up. Inevitably, I'm stuck with the wrong sail for the wrong conditions, but it works out okay most of the time. My sailmaker tells me that it's becoming in vogue to only have self furling headsail, a 135% bi-radial genoa that you can reef down to 110% without losing shape, augmented by a drifter (genniker, etc.) for light air. Not a good solution for distance cruisers or racers, but probably adequate for us coast huggers. Encore
1092.2		ABE::HASKELL		`Fri Jan 06 1989 15:45`	21
	while I'm on the head sail and roller furling, let me also ask some questions concerning the roller furling. I have only sailed this boat three times before putting it up for the winter. I left the furling setup on the mast when the mast was pulled and placed on tripods on the deck. I taped the extrusion to the mast so that it would not bend or take a set. Come spring, what do I do with it? Just have it hooked up when the mast is stepped? Is there any recommended maintenance? I'm not even sure that I remember how everything was hooked up. With my luck, when I go out for the first sail this coming season, when I pull on the furling line, the jib will roll up around the back stay. Paul
1092.3	Get a copy of the manuals	ECADSR::FINNERTY		`Sun Jan 08 1989 17:27`	16
	re -.1 that depends on your rig and on which roller furling system you have, but it should be very simple. it's usually just a matter of reconnecting the forestay. Hood recommends that the roller furling drum be flushed with water frequently... in fact, it voids the warranty if you don't. If you don't have the documentation for yours (what kind is it?), I'd recommend getting it. it's not unlikely that it was installed by a/the previous owner and you should get the manuals just to check that the installation was done properly. Jim (Irish Mist)