I own a 1986 Catalina 22 which I've sailed for several seasons. While I consider my self a fairly competant sailor I still haven't gotten the hang of the various adjustment of the jib cars. My boat has a 135 roller furling genoa. Any simple advice?
Adivice on adjusting jib Cars
- Thread starter larry7072
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More wind = cars toward stern, less wind = cars toward bow. BUT If you're reefing by partially rolling up the jib then you need to move them forward to compensate for the shorter sail. It's easier to see/understand what's going on with your sail if you have infinitely adjustable cars that can be adjusted under load instead of the pull-the-pin type that you can't really play with.
I have genoa cars that can be adjusted under load. If the wind is < 8ish then my cars are pretty much forward, which pulls down more on the leech than the foot and lets the sail draw evenly along its entire length. The trick is to get the telltales streaming at the top, middle, and bottom of the sail.
As the wind comes up and I start to get overpowered I move the cars aft. That pulls more on the foot, less on the leech, and the top twists off more downwind depowering the sail. Since my genoa track is sized for a 155% genoa I don't usually bring the car all the way back unless the wind is really howling as the top will start flogging. Our Capri 22 Tall Rig needs the smaller jib or to be reefed at around 10 knots of wind. We went out on Tuesday with the genoa and full main in 13 Knots with gusts; when the breeze didn't die off as usual, but continued to build, we were quickly overpowered so I twisted off the top of the genoa by drawing the cars all the way back. It flogged a bit but my lee upper shroud also stopped flopping around, which is something I really don't like to see.
I have genoa cars that can be adjusted under load. If the wind is < 8ish then my cars are pretty much forward, which pulls down more on the leech than the foot and lets the sail draw evenly along its entire length. The trick is to get the telltales streaming at the top, middle, and bottom of the sail.
As the wind comes up and I start to get overpowered I move the cars aft. That pulls more on the foot, less on the leech, and the top twists off more downwind depowering the sail. Since my genoa track is sized for a 155% genoa I don't usually bring the car all the way back unless the wind is really howling as the top will start flogging. Our Capri 22 Tall Rig needs the smaller jib or to be reefed at around 10 knots of wind. We went out on Tuesday with the genoa and full main in 13 Knots with gusts; when the breeze didn't die off as usual, but continued to build, we were quickly overpowered so I twisted off the top of the genoa by drawing the cars all the way back. It flogged a bit but my lee upper shroud also stopped flopping around, which is something I really don't like to see.
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Do you have three sets of tell tales on your headsail's luff? top quarter, middle, bottom quarter......... when you tack the boat, watch all three sets as the sail begins to luff. If the bottom set breaks first, you need to move the car back.... conversely, if the top tell breaks before the others....... move the car forward... If you can get them to break simutaneously.. you're doing well.
You are essentionally setting the twist of your headsail to its neutral position. Mark the setting.... then you can make variable adjustments to " power up" or "de power" the sail as desired during the sailing session. When the time comes, slipping the car back to the neutral mark without luffing up to check the tell tale break will keep the boat on its optimal course and speed.
A reminder........ " bottom - back" moving the car back tightens the foot and opens the leech.... more twist. de power.
moving the car forward tightens, or closes the leech, and eases the foot simultaneously to create a rounder, fuller shape.
You are essentionally setting the twist of your headsail to its neutral position. Mark the setting.... then you can make variable adjustments to " power up" or "de power" the sail as desired during the sailing session. When the time comes, slipping the car back to the neutral mark without luffing up to check the tell tale break will keep the boat on its optimal course and speed.
A reminder........ " bottom - back" moving the car back tightens the foot and opens the leech.... more twist. de power.
moving the car forward tightens, or closes the leech, and eases the foot simultaneously to create a rounder, fuller shape.
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