today was first time to use the a-sail in "real" wind. wind was about 8-12, barely whitecapping on inland lake. (my previous attempts were with almost calm winds.) according to gps, reached 6.9 knots on broad reach using the a-sail. main sail was reefed. several gybes, just to learn how, fouled the working/lazy sheets a couple of time, don't let the lazy sheet get below the sprit when it isn't being used! was able to "wing-and-wing" but i don't have a preventer, so wasn't comfortable doing this. will use the boom vang to chain plate next time. was able to sail about 15-20 degrees from being full downwind run. in other words, wind was from 50 degrees, was able to sail 200 degrees, and 260 degrees. then, i experimented to see how close to the wind it would sail with jib and main sail, no reef. with lots of wind, was able to tack thru 75-80 degrees. that is a lot closer than i would have guessed. but repeated the tests several times, and the numbers repeated. this was really exciting. doug
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You might try this
The location of the jib fairleads on the 216 appear to be just a little bit too far inboard. Although you are able to point well, the jib seems to bend the wind enough to backwind the main stealing some of you forward speed. On our 216, .1 to .2 Kns. We've jury-rigged a temporary barber hauler system tied down to the chainplates and this works better not only when going to windward, but also when you are slightly off the wind and before you would set your spinnaker. There ware previous posts where one of our 216ers has actually repositioned his jib fairleads. Check out postings by Ranger Paul in the archives.
The location of the jib fairleads on the 216 appear to be just a little bit too far inboard. Although you are able to point well, the jib seems to bend the wind enough to backwind the main stealing some of you forward speed. On our 216, .1 to .2 Kns. We've jury-rigged a temporary barber hauler system tied down to the chainplates and this works better not only when going to windward, but also when you are slightly off the wind and before you would set your spinnaker. There ware previous posts where one of our 216ers has actually repositioned his jib fairleads. Check out postings by Ranger Paul in the archives.
outside gybe
all of my attempts to gybe have been outside. that seemed to make more sense since 1) the sail was out in front and only had to fall off and across the forestay: and 2) the halyard block to the head of the a-sail is above the forestay attachment to the mast. depending on which way the sail is orginially rigged, the halyard will be contacting the forestay on one heading or the other if one Inside gybes, want it? i'll try an inside gybe, but hadn't considered it until you suggested it. thank you. doug
all of my attempts to gybe have been outside. that seemed to make more sense since 1) the sail was out in front and only had to fall off and across the forestay: and 2) the halyard block to the head of the a-sail is above the forestay attachment to the mast. depending on which way the sail is orginially rigged, the halyard will be contacting the forestay on one heading or the other if one Inside gybes, want it? i'll try an inside gybe, but hadn't considered it until you suggested it. thank you. doug
Guess I need to clarify.
An outside jibe means that the sheets are set up outside the tack and the sail is allowed to fly out like a flag before it is flipped over on the other tack. An inside jibe means that the sheets are set up inside the tack and outside the forestay. Jibing means passing the clew between the tack and forestay. This requires a little more technique but is faster and no need to worry about loosing the sheets under the boat. All race boats that fly asails will use the inside jibe for those reasons.
An outside jibe means that the sheets are set up outside the tack and the sail is allowed to fly out like a flag before it is flipped over on the other tack. An inside jibe means that the sheets are set up inside the tack and outside the forestay. Jibing means passing the clew between the tack and forestay. This requires a little more technique but is faster and no need to worry about loosing the sheets under the boat. All race boats that fly asails will use the inside jibe for those reasons.
One more little thing
On the 216, when starting an inside jibe, make sure that the lazy sheet is up above the bottom of the furled headsail. If it catches there, as it usually does, you'll have a harder time completing a smooth jibe of the skinnaker.
On the 216, when starting an inside jibe, make sure that the lazy sheet is up above the bottom of the furled headsail. If it catches there, as it usually does, you'll have a harder time completing a smooth jibe of the skinnaker.
Tending the lazy sheet
If the lazy sheet is not trimed in during the Jibe, there are all kinds of ways for it to get snagged. When this happens the Spinnaker will balloon out and you will have a difficult time finishing the jibe. To accomplish this, the lazy sheet should be drawn up tight prior to releasing the active sheet. In drawing it up, this is where you want to be sure that it is above the jib drum and even up the furled jib. As it is necessarty for the lazy sheet to be very loose while actually under sail with the spinnaker, it usually winds up down at the bottom of the jib or even below the furling drum.
If the lazy sheet is not trimed in during the Jibe, there are all kinds of ways for it to get snagged. When this happens the Spinnaker will balloon out and you will have a difficult time finishing the jibe. To accomplish this, the lazy sheet should be drawn up tight prior to releasing the active sheet. In drawing it up, this is where you want to be sure that it is above the jib drum and even up the furled jib. As it is necessarty for the lazy sheet to be very loose while actually under sail with the spinnaker, it usually winds up down at the bottom of the jib or even below the furling drum.
mr. ernie
i discovered this on my last sail. after several trips to the foredeck to untangle the soon to be working sheet. thank you. doug
i discovered this on my last sail. after several trips to the foredeck to untangle the soon to be working sheet. thank you. doug
Not on the 216
Alan, the 216 does not have either a bow pulpit or an anchor roller. The furler drum on the 216 is not so big that you can't just flip the lazy sheet up over it prior to starting the tack. Normally, it lays on top of it and only gets hooked on the bottom of the furled jib itself.
Alan, the 216 does not have either a bow pulpit or an anchor roller. The furler drum on the 216 is not so big that you can't just flip the lazy sheet up over it prior to starting the tack. Normally, it lays on top of it and only gets hooked on the bottom of the furled jib itself.
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