My wife and I have a 02 B311 with original sails so getting ready to replace. Since our 116% headsail can't be enlarged easily, we are considering a battened headsail made with a cruising laminate (cxi) from UK sails. Will the battens give a fair return on investment, help noticeably in light air performance, are we going in the right direction? All insights are welcome, thanks to all.
Battened headsail
- Thread starter cstonedent
- Start date
Battens on headsails allow the same thing they allow on mainsails - positive roach. Genoas have negative roach. Jibs (LP < 110) usually do too, but high performace jibs designed to maximize sail area will have a straight leech or even positive roach. This requires battens to contol flutter. This requires very careful measurement to keep the sail out of the shrouds.
The additional roach allows extra sail area. That generally equates to more performace, but the actual diff will be slight. You might see it while racing, but unless you are sailing at 9/10ths and above, you probably will not.
Are you sure your sail can be 116%? I'd guess 106-110. Much larger and it hits the shrouds. And normally roached headsails stop at 110% anyway because some rating rules prohibit it. Ask your sailmaker about it.
The additional roach allows extra sail area. That generally equates to more performace, but the actual diff will be slight. You might see it while racing, but unless you are sailing at 9/10ths and above, you probably will not.
Are you sure your sail can be 116%? I'd guess 106-110. Much larger and it hits the shrouds. And normally roached headsails stop at 110% anyway because some rating rules prohibit it. Ask your sailmaker about it.
cstonedent - Also one thing to consider is if your jib is on a furler? I am sure you can go with vertical battens as are used on furling mainsails but I have to agree with Jackdaw; is the small advantage going to be worth it if you are not racing? Talk to several sail makers. Some of the most high performance one designs use jibs in that size range that are on furlers. What are they using? I think you are on the right track going with a good stable fabric.
One last question; do you have a furling mainsail? If so then I wouldn't be so concerned about the battens on the jib. Keep your set up functional and easy to use especially if you are not racing at a high level.
Don't over think it, keep it fun.
Jayster
One last question; do you have a furling mainsail? If so then I wouldn't be so concerned about the battens on the jib. Keep your set up functional and easy to use especially if you are not racing at a high level.
Don't over think it, keep it fun.
Jayster
Thin: The 311 has shrouds out to the hull and is designed to only fly an non-overlapping headsail. Impossible to put a bigger one one. Going battens to add area to the roach gains you about 5% area in the jib. Small but meaningful.
Jay: Battens for rolling jib can be angleed upwards so they roll with the furled sail (like below) or high-zoot RBS rolling battens.
Jay: Battens for rolling jib can be angleed upwards so they roll with the furled sail (like below) or high-zoot RBS rolling battens.