Genoa head not wrapping

lfcsi

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Aug 12, 2025
2
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1746 Worton Creek, Maryland
Hello all, the head of my new 140% genoa is not wrapping. I've tried different halyard tensions with little effect. Any ideas on what may be wrong?

Thanks in advance.

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Mar 6, 2008
1,363
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
It appears that the jib is currently wrapped up. The only other reason may be that you need to move the fairlead car farther aft on its track. Try that and let us know.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,330
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
move the fairlead car farther aft on its track
This is a good suggestion.
This would tension (pull down from the sail head) the leech and belly a bit at the foot. This might resolve the bit of gap you have in your furled sail.
 
May 29, 2018
604
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
RE: you need to move the fairlead car farther aft on its track.

Aft will pull the foot tight.
Forward will pull the leach tight.

I suspect that this is a very old sail that has lost its shape.
Either way you should experiment with the fairlead cars as Joe has suggested.


Gary
 
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Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,212
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
You might also experiment with a little higher hoist to snug up the halyard restrainer closer to the swivel. It may keep the wrap a little cleaner. I emphasize "experiment" with this adjustment because it might not help at all... or it could... who knows. See what you can come up with to add a few inches to the hoist temporarily. For instance, you could extend the sail's tack further up the foil by disconnecting it from the drum shackle and adding a few loops of small diameter line between the two. Remember your just experimenting here, so limiting the activity to dockside at first is the safe method. Whatever the outcome, you should learn something that might be applicable elsewhere. Good Luck.
 
May 17, 2004
5,712
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
I suspect that this is a very old sail that has lost its shape.
Either way you should experiment with the fairlead cars as Joe has suggested
That’s my guess too. One thing that can happen on older sails is that the leech can stretch out and no longer be under as much tension as it should. It looks like that could explain a wrap like that. Moving the car forward might help keep more leech tension so it furls when it’s supposed to instead of bubbling out while the rest of the sail is wrapping.
 
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Apr 1, 2012
147
Pearson 424 Charleston, SC
The op stated that it’s a new 140 genoa, in which case I would suspect that the head patch is stiff and doesn’t like to be bent around the foil. I have a similar problem with the clew patch on my new mainsail, it’s very stiff and makes closing the sail cover very difficult.
 
May 17, 2004
5,712
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
The op stated that it’s a new 140 genoa, in which case I would suspect that the head patch is stiff and doesn’t like to be bent around the foil. I have a similar problem with the clew patch on my new mainsail, it’s very stiff and makes closing the sail cover very difficult.
Good catch. I missed that too. I think you’re exactly right - there’s a lot of cloth and stitching at the head there and not a lot of force available to make it curl, so that could explain it.
 

JBP-PA

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Apr 29, 2022
628
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
The op stated that it’s a new 140 genoa, in which case I would suspect that the head patch is stiff and doesn’t like to be bent around the foil. I have a similar problem with the clew patch on my new mainsail, it’s very stiff and makes closing the sail cover very difficult.
Yep. We must had the same problem with a brand new sail. After a while it rolls better (at the expense of a permanent curl when unfurled).
 

lfcsi

.
Aug 12, 2025
2
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1746 Worton Creek, Maryland
Thank you everyone for the amazing responses. At the weekend I'll be experimenting with all the ideas you suggested and will report back. This is a brand new sail but the your ideas make sense as things to try. Thanks again.
 
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