Genoa height?

[Mitchel Cline]

I have not owned my 23 O'Day for very long, and have just gotten around to trying the genoa. With the life lines running at the same height around the deck, even to the bow, the genoa rides on the lines lifting the bottom portion of the sail, and drastically reducing forward vision. Has anyone ever (or seen) installed an extension such as a 18-24" stainless cable with shackles on both ends to raise the genoa up to allow the sail to clear the lifelines, and improve the visibility? If I did so, would I be compromising the airflow over my main by raising the genoa by this amount. I just have no experience with this type of an adjustment, and would appreciate any insight or advice anyone could offer.Thanks, Mitchel Clinemitchelcline@hotmail.com

 

[Mike]

Common solution

I have seen a number of folks do what you are suggesting. If you leave the sail hanked on all the time (and I am assuming you are talking about a hanked on sail), you don't have to go to all the trouble or expense of making up a stainless cable w/shackles. A regular old piece of line will do just fine. While at the dock, unhitch your genny from the bow tang, hoist the sail as high as you want. Tie a piece of line to the genny's shackle using a bowline knot, then run that line down to the tang. Loop the line up to the shackle and down to the tang a few times (you may want to put an empty shackle on the tang too, depending on the amount of space you have to run the multiple loops). Cinch it up tight, wrap the excess line around the stay and the loops, tie it off and you are good to go.Will higher genny spoil the airflow to your mainsail? It may make some techincal difference, but I don't know if it will be for the better or worse. My guess is that it will make little noticable difference at all; remember that the genny overlaps the main no matter how high the genny is set, so you are probably only nibbling at the margins.

 

[Steve]

I did just

what Mike suggested a week ago. Worked perfectly. Didn't notice any substantial change in the shape of the mainsail. Greatly improved my forward visibility and should reduce wear and tear on the genny. Used a shackle at the stem plate to prevent line chafe on the pendant.