A sail plan

[Aac]

Hi all

Would first like to say thet I've been reading Sailnet a lot lately and find it a great place; hopefully when I learn more I can contribute in kind.

I'm in the process of updating sails and would like to make as few costly mistakes as possible - not easy. I have a Wauquiez Centurion 40s fractional rigged monohull with overlapping head sails (cap stays are not at max beam). The idea is equip her with decent sails and maybe a thought of not very serious club racing somewhere down the line. I've talked to sailmakers but their opinions are often biased.


At present it has the stock standard dacon main and furling 135% genoa and a cruising chute.

The problems:

- at less than 8 knots and on a reach the genoa doesnt fill

- at more that 15 knots wind and to windard the 135% genoa need to be reefed using the furler; something I really dont like as the shape is lost and the boat heels too much to winward.

I am trying to avoid reefing furling sails; here's what I think might work:




Is there something I have missed that make this unworkable.

Except for the Asymmetric spinnaker all sails would be on furlers - but little to NO reefing. The removable furler on the bowsprit would have two positions, the one nearest the stem would be for the 135% genoa at 0.4m fore of the stem.

- the 115% working jib will suit moderate and heavy airs and to windward

- the 135% genoa would be the general purpose sail. It would need to be furled before tacking; something I dont mind as at least it wont be trying to fight itself around the mast and side stays ripping the UV cover to threads.

- the code zero/screacher would be for winward work in light airs

My main concern is how would the 135% genoa operating at 0.4m fore of the design stem affect the balance of the boat. I know all boats are different but what would one expect.

I also plan on leaving the 115% jib furled on the stay when not used but to remove the 135% genoa when not used. Manufactures say how easy the continuous line furlers are to use and how easy it is to store the sail. Is that really true; the 135% is not a light sail.

I will be meeting a rigger next week to discuss bowsprit strengthening with a bobstay and dont want to look too foolish.

[overbored]

where do I sign up for your race crew? looks like a interesting plan but I am not sure about the furling every time you tack the 135. if the 115 will work for the race headsail your light wind race sail would be the code z. do you have a sprit now or will you be adding one? a .8 m sprit might mean outside jibes for the Aso's

[Aac]

Hi overbored

You're more than welcome to crew if you can make it to Brisbane.

I often sail single handed and even when the wife and kids are on board I find that I'm basically single handing.

The idea of moving the 135% (#2) fore 0.4m is so that I don’t need to change from the 115% to the 135% using the foil and being at the bow.

The procedures would be:

- if close hauled using the 115% and need to close reach then I would unfurl the 135% and furl the 115%.

- if close reaching with the 135% and the wind picked up then I would unfurl the 115% and furl the 135%.

- if racing and flying the A-sail and had the 135% already hoisted but furled and needed to head to windward, I would use the sock on the spinnaker and unfurl the 135%. If there's too much wind I would unfurl the 115%.

As you say tacking the 135% could be a little slow in a race situation; I think there may be a workaround but I’m only guessing. If to windward and the 135% is being used the wind is probably between 10 and 20 knots. If a tack is necessary and you have crew then the 115% could be unfurled on the tack whilst the 135% is being furled. Once tacked the 115% could be furled and the 135% furled.

Basically I'm trying to think of a way to have the 115% and 135% working from the cockpit and without too much weight aloft.

Once furled I've been thinking how to bring down the 135% from the cockpit and to the cockpit; I have a few ideas but I don’t want it complicated. Maybe a mouse line at the tack leading back to the cockpit - need to experiment.

[Aac]

Originally Posted by overbored

do you have a sprit now or will you be adding one? a .8 m sprit might mean outside jibes for the Aso's

Outside jibes work fine; I did once manage to wrap it around the forstay; tool an hour to get it down.