Genoa Leech line and interesting sail

[BarryL]

Hello,

Last night my wife and kids joined for an evening sail. We went to watch the wednesday night race fleet, have dinner etc.

After we got the starting area we turned off the engine and sailed around waiting for the start. Then I noticed parts of the genoa leech line were hanging free of the sail. About 10 minutes later the entire leech line, from the head to the foot was free and blowing around. This was not good because a tack would either rip the line or worse, damage the spreader. Anyway I furled the sail when I had to tack.

Back at the mooring I unrolled the sail, lowered it, and cut it off of the head of the sail. My plan is to sail this year without the leech line and have the sail repaired over the winter. If the leech flutters badly I guess I will have to get the sail repaired sooner.

Is there anything wrong with that plan?

The sail (UK Halsey Passagemaker) was brand new in 2008. Am I missing something, or should the leech last longer than that? i think I'll call the loft to get their input.

Lastly, right after I noticed the leech line loose (say that three times fast!) we saw a football floating in the water. Perfect time for a MOB drill! I had one of the my kids keep an eye on the ball, the other one steered and my wife watched. I went below and got a net. Then we tacked and sailed back, completing the recovery under sail. If the ball were a person they would have survived!

Barry

[MARC2012]

When I bought my present boat the line was broken.Dropped the sail and used a fid to put in a new one.No fun,time consuming but done.marc

[WanderingStar]

I think you're right that it should last longer. My genoa was aboard in '08, gives every sign of being a used sail, and has it's leech line. You can certainly sail without it, though at some point the flapping will wear the sail.

[chef2sail]

Barry,

Assuming the leech line in the sacrifical is it the line which broke or is it the tunnel it sits in?

Thats way to soon for you to have problems with it.

In my dealings with UK -Halsey they will honor their work and are quite customer service friendly in the Annapolis Area. I would call them and ask how the will remedy you situation. It May take taking the sail down at the end of a weekend and picking it back up again on Friday.

I would not go the summer like this as your sail will luff needlessly which in on thing which wears a sail out.

Dave

[T34C]

I'd consider taking it to the loft now instead of waiting till the end of the year. It should have lasted longer than that, and its a pretty quick repair.

[Sabreman]

Don't wait to get the leech fixed. The leech line and its protective cover are an integral part of the sail, in addition to the performance improvement that it provides. If you wait, you will wear the leech and a simple fix could become more complex.

The line should have lasted much longer (decades). I suspect that the stitching failed due to UV degradation. What's puzzling is that it should be covered by the UV cover on the leech of the sail. Regardless, UK will take care of it. But do it now.

[paul323]

Ditto the above advice. You have to see to believe what damage flogging can do to a sail. I left a slightly detached uv protection unrepaired for a couple of sails - it almost shred itself. Don't wait - if you do it may well cost a lot more by the end of the season!

[WanderingStar]

Saw you going out last night as I came in. I solved the transmission problem and rewarded myself with a reach down to Rocky Point and back.

[SEMIJim]

The cruising sails on Abracadabra are her original sails, which means they're 35 years old this season. Both jib and genoa still have their leech lines, and both still work fine.

Jim