Weird sails...

[pmoore]

So, I'm digging into the sail bags on the 1976 Camper Nic 33 I just bought, and I run across these bizarre (to me at least) sails.

The first one I spread on the lawn is like a really, really, big jib- but crunchy! It's almost tarplike, but really light...

The other is colorful like a spinnaker, but is small relative to the actual spinnaker, and is sort of an odd shaped triangle. It has heavy rings on two corners, but a tiny one on the third...

Curioser and curiouser- any thoughts would be appreciated.

-Phil

[puddinlegs]

Sail #1 could be a very light genoa/drifter type sail. The second sail, my money's on a 'blooper'.

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

All right, I'll bite... what's a blooper? Some variation on the gennaker?

[BubbleheadMd]

OMG, a blooper? He'll need a full crew to fly a spinnaker, plus that!

[BubbleheadMd]

Originally Posted by LarryandSusanMacDonald

All right, I'll bite... what's a blooper? Some variation on the gennaker?

A blooper is a downwind sail, typically flown on boats built to the old IOR rule. It's flown in conjunction with a symmetric spinnaker to provide stability and extra sail area.

Looks like this:

[OtterGreen]

if it is really crunchy and stiff, chances are it is a new/never used sail or very lightly used. i have a genoa 155% that has never been used and it feels like a tarp as well.

[SHNOOL]

Help us help you.. crisp sail? is it white, yellow, multi colored or not? Will help us determine if it is a mylar, or dacron... but does sound like a genoa, 150 or better.

I agree blooper sounds correct... is it also a light material like the spin? Probably blooper, but Gennaker is only other thing I can think of (less likely), but that'd be nearly as big as spinn, like this.

[pinayreefer]

Not to hijack but since we're throwing around sail names, what's a drifter? i've got one and don't know how useful it is when I've got a 130 rollerfurling genoa?

[SHNOOL]

Drifter = full draft bigger than 155... 170. used off the wind a bit.
A sailmakers definition might be more helpful.

Drifter Sails - UK-Halsey's Encyclopedia of Sails

Picture of one:

[puddinlegs]

A drifter can be a great light air weapon. Think cats paws and small zephyrs light 0-4/5kts true. Very few boats have them now. Buoy races will generally be delayed and cruisers in general are going to be motoring long before a drifter comes into its own.