When I am on port tack, the foot of my jib catches on the bow pulpit (as pictured). Curiously, when I'm on starboard, the foot runs clear, letting me trim a lot better. Jib cars at at the same position on both sides. There is no asymmetry on the pulpit for it to catch on. I keep thinking that a puff will shake it out, but it persists in heavier air. Any thoughts on what's going on I things I can try?
Jib catches on bow pulpit - port tack only
- Thread starter Dave96734
- Start date
Very curious indeed. You mentioned "no asymmetry on the pulpit for it to catch on", I assume that means distance from boat centerline and height off the deck at each aft corner is the same? Assuming you've got forestay room at the head, loosen the tack line and raise the sail. Doesn't address the port tack / starboard tack difference but will help clearance on starboard tack.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,192
Dave
This is not unusual. It is the cut of the Jib that has not considered the pulpit. You can have this re cut to correct the issue (sometimes called a Yankee).
You can choose to have a jib that is shorter with a painter that rasies the jib above the pulpit.
You can also have chafe strips put on the sail to protect it.
This is not unusual. It is the cut of the Jib that has not considered the pulpit. You can have this re cut to correct the issue (sometimes called a Yankee).
R/F Yankee
This is a sail with a very high cut clew, usually sized at around 100% - 110% overlap.The high clew means the sail can fly away from the boat when eased sheets, so it is an excellent sail for Reaching and is therefore most commonly used as an offshore sail. Due to the height of the clew, we bring the leech line over the head of the sail and down the luff to make it adjustable at the tack.
You can choose to have a jib that is shorter with a painter that rasies the jib above the pulpit.
You can also have chafe strips put on the sail to protect it.
It could just be the flexibility or smoothness of the sunbrella on one side vs. the Dacron on the other causing the difference. It’s not unusual for a sail to get caught like that though. If you can time your tack and sheet the sail in quickly enough to get it close hauled before it goes over the rail that might help. Otherwise you just need to do what racers call skirting the jib. The only other alternative is to have the sail recut and/or raised as jssailem suggests, but that has performance trade offs.
Look at the tack connection on the furler drum. I'll bet that the sail is closer to the pulpit on one tack than the other. Rotate the drum to reposition the tack. If that doesn't help, you can try raising the tack. You'll need enough room up top to raise the sail in its slot, and some cording to cover the extra distance from tack to shackle. Final option is to live with it or recut.... when you buy a new headsail, factor that issue into the measurement process.