genoa sail and rigging

[sailormike]

I have a 1999 hunter 42 cc currently with a jib sail. I am considering upgrading the jib to a genoa. I sail mostly in San Diego where the winds are lite, rarely over 18. What size genoa would increase my speed the best? 120%? 140%? 160%? If I use a genoa sail, does this change my rigging?

Thanks

 

[Alan]

Mike,

If you are going to a larger genoa you will need to have genoa car tracks to adjust the lead angle of the sheet for the larger sail and longer sheets.
I would consider a code 0 asymmetrical in place of the larger genoa if your cruising only. A code 0 can be rolled on a dedicated stay just like a roller furled headsail. They have a wide range of AWA and are very effective in light air going to weather.

 

[guest]

head sail 42 passage

I have a 1999 hunter 42 cc currently with a jib sail. I am considering upgrading the jib to a genoa. I sail mostly in San Diego where the winds are lite, rarely over 18. What size genoa would increase my speed the best? 120%? 140%? 160%? If I use a genoa sail, does this change my rigging?

Thanks

Mike, I own a 93 42 passage, alought my boat has been converted to a cutter rig, my 130 genoa was reduced to a yankee clipper. It was my understanding that all 42's came factory equipped with a 130. Most people wouldn't consider anything larger do to the visisability issues with a center cocpit. Tom

 

[Alan]

Tom, a simple solution to that would be to have your larger genoa made with a high clew which would greatly increase visibility. Alternatively you could have a window installed.

 

[sailormike]

Re: head sail 42 passage

I thought all I had was a jib, it goes only slightly past the mast. Visisability is an issue and a concern. I was hoping to get a little more out of the girl. Sometimes I can barely hold 45' into the lite winds, while the faster boats zoom by and are holding more like 30' into the wind. My main is furling with no battens. My buddies 42' Catalina has a 160% genoa, and is easily 20% faster.

Thanks Mike

 

[Alan]

Mike,

I believe the Passage 42 came stock with a 130 genoa. If your headsail is a 110 or less then light wind performance will certainly suffer. Also a roller furled main is a huge detriment to sailing performance. It is certainly easier to handle but costs dearly in performance.
You may also want to make sure the bottom is clean. Just a slime on the bottom can cost up to a knot (15%) of boat speed particularly in light air.
Windage too will cost sailing performance. Dodgers, awnings, arches, dingy on davits (or towed) anything that stops air flow will kill performance.

BTW do you have telltales on your sails? Proper sail trim is impossible without them.

 

[sailormike]

Bottom is ultra clean. A friend in Phoenix is a self made chemist and develops chemicals so things don't stick. It all started with a spray to keep gum from sticking on cement. He now make’s marine paint that sea life cannot attach to. It is so slick you can take a sharpie marker draw on your boat and wipe it off with a paper towel. No need to have you boat scraped monthly, just wipe it off with a soft cloth periodically. You still need to re-paint, but more time in between. He said the stuff has an almost zero drag coefficient. It has only been out on the market for about a year now.
I think my problem is the main sail, but I am in denial and jealous. Yes I do have telltales on the headsail.

Thanks for all the comments.

P.S. I have a window in the headsail and still sometime struggle to see everything especially in a busy bay like SD.
Mike

 

[Alan]

No worries Mike. There are plenty of folks with similar issues. Until you test sail the same boats with and without roller furling mains you will never understand the difference in performance. I'm quite sure you could sell your rig and replace it with a standard setup at no out of pocket money. Something you may want to consider, I sure would.

 

[Steve Feinsilver]

Go for new main with vertical battens

had a 410 with rolller main, never satisfied with the shape of the sail, on my new 44ds opted for vertical batten roller main. Four battens, extend entire height of sail. This has made a tremendous difference. As a cruiser rather than (except very rarely) racer, I would never go back to a standard main. The roller furling allows me to sail shorthanded comfortably, put main up whenever I feel there is some wind. Have never had a problem with furling unless I did something really stupid, and even then nothing serious. Don't fuss with the jib, the design of these boats is for big main with big roach and small (easy to handle and see around) jib. Don't get rid of the rig, get a new vertical batten main.

S/V Breathless 2007 h44ds

 

[Alan]

Steve, I'm curious how you control draft location and depth with your roller furled main?

 

[Steve Feinsilver]

Loose foot

I think the best part of sailing is the seemingly infinite things to play with to try to get more speed. I am always learning. The added dimension of the roller furling main is that it is loose footed. In addition to all the usual adjustments, easing the outhaul can radically change the shape of a loose footed sail. In general, tight on windy day, loose for light air, but there is no end to the amount of tweaking possible to change draft for different conditions.