Coming about

[All U Get]

Hi all,
We had a good 4th vacation on the boat but one thing has proven to be an issue. When we come about with the Genny out, it doesn't slide over our staysail. Someone has to head up front to pull the sail, which is backwinded, around the furled staysail. With our set-up we cannot disconnect the roller furling of the staysail because it is set up with a self-tacking boom(?). The sun protection that is sewn on each sail creates enough friction to keep the Genny from sliding through. Do racers have a thimble sewn in about mid point of the foot of the Genny to have another line attached? While making the tack it is pulled forward to get most of the Genny ahead of the staysail. Just brainstorming with an old brain. I even thought a PVC pipe over the staysail to get a slicker surface. On a good note, we can heave to in a matter of seconds.
All U Get

 

[Tim R.]

AllUGet, a good technique is to have your staysail out and let it backwind when tacking. this will prevent the genny from falling through the slot. The genny will also slip by the backwinded staysail much easier then trying to muscle it around the stay. Once the genny has tacked, tack the staysail.

 

[All U Get]

Hi Tim,
Do you think the self-tacking staysail will work the same? I can shorten the sheet for it to keep it close to mid-line, otherwise it would have to be rigged different.
All U Get
Would you like a PM?

 

[Joe]

AllUGet, a good technique is to have your staysail out and let it backwind when tacking. this will prevent the genny from falling through the slot. The genny will also slip by the backwinded staysail much easier then trying to muscle it around the stay. Once the genny has tacked, tack the staysail.

Yes that's the way we did it on my friends IP. Of course, you must disable the "self-tacking" feature of the staysail in order to delay it long enough to backwind the genny through.

So if you're not up for that, you must control the sheet.... don't throw it off like you would on a sloop rig when tacking. Instead, roll up the sail some and try to release the sheet so when the sail starts backwinding it will push throught the gap first then gradually pay it out until it wants to pull hard.... then release. Trying to pull it through with the new leeward sheed will be abrasive on the staysail and can cause other hang ups.

Or...... just roll it up till the clew clears the staysail and let it out on the other side.

 

[Terry411]

You can rig a line from the clew to a point at the bow then back to the cockpit pull the clew forward. I wait to release the jib sheet until it is backwinded a bit, helps to get it to go thru. Or on roll a little up.

 

[Anchor Down]

That's called a tricing line. It can be attached at the clew, but performs more elegantly when attached at any point 1/3 to 1/2 way back along the foot of the headsail. That way, the forward third of the sail is bunched while the line is pulled, putting all that loose sail out of the way, and letting the clew slip by the forestay without any wear on the sail fabric.

Quicker than furling/unfurling.

You then can tack, well, literally, in a trice.

 

[rgranger]

You can rig a line from the clew to a point at the bow then back to the cockpit pull the clew forward. I wait to release the jib sheet until it is backwinded a bit, helps to get it to go thru. Or on roll a little up.

Interesting... so sort of like a down haul but more of a forward haul?

Seems like it should work. Have you tried it?

 

[All U Get]

Anchor Down,
I did some searching and the tricing line has been used for several aplications and the Genny option seems like it would work for us. I just have to put a grommet in the foot and run the line.
All U Get

 

[higgs]

[\ Do racers have a thimble sewn in about mid point of the foot of the Genny to have another line attached?

Racers don't use cutter rigs.

 

[All U Get]

Hi Higgs,
I just looked at the footage from the movie "Wind" and the Aussies had a trice line on their boat. Being inventive I was thinking of setting one up with shock cord so it would automatically pull the cloth forward, what do you think?
All U Get