Genoa setting
- Thread starter Tom23400
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Yes.... move the fairleads forward
Just like in setting the fairleads when the sail is fully unfurled - slowly turn into the wind and notice if the luff 'breaks' all along the luff and all at the same time. With a partly rolled sail and the clew 'more forward', move the fairleads forward while slowly 'luffing up to weather' and position the fairleads so that the entire luff 'breaks' at the same time. A good practice is to place marks on the cap rail next to the fairlead cars so that you can return to the same fairlead position when you 'reef' by the same amount. FWIW ... If you reef the genoa often consider the Garhauer "E-Z Glide Adjustable Genoa Car System" which will make fairlead setting quick and easy. .... especially good when you 'ease the sheets' when on a reach or run as it easily allows the fairlead to go even further forward to be at the proper sheet/fairlead angle, and beats hell out of running back and forth all the time to reset the fairleads. With this system all the control/adjustment is done from the cockpit
Just like in setting the fairleads when the sail is fully unfurled - slowly turn into the wind and notice if the luff 'breaks' all along the luff and all at the same time. With a partly rolled sail and the clew 'more forward', move the fairleads forward while slowly 'luffing up to weather' and position the fairleads so that the entire luff 'breaks' at the same time. A good practice is to place marks on the cap rail next to the fairlead cars so that you can return to the same fairlead position when you 'reef' by the same amount. FWIW ... If you reef the genoa often consider the Garhauer "E-Z Glide Adjustable Genoa Car System" which will make fairlead setting quick and easy. .... especially good when you 'ease the sheets' when on a reach or run as it easily allows the fairlead to go even further forward to be at the proper sheet/fairlead angle, and beats hell out of running back and forth all the time to reset the fairleads. With this system all the control/adjustment is done from the cockpit
Furling or reefing gear on the Genoa?
If you have a furling genoa then you are going to be disapointed with the partial deployment of the sail. If you have a reefing genoa then yes adjust the blocks just like you would for a smaller LP sail. Reefeing foresails are not very common BTW. You can tell by the foam at the luft that takes the draft out of the sail when partially deployed.
If you have a furling genoa then you are going to be disapointed with the partial deployment of the sail. If you have a reefing genoa then yes adjust the blocks just like you would for a smaller LP sail. Reefeing foresails are not very common BTW. You can tell by the foam at the luft that takes the draft out of the sail when partially deployed.
A lot depends on your expectations
and the type of sailing you are doing. As a mostly single-hander, also with a 150 furling genoa with a foam luff, I normally have to shorten the headsail when the winds get at or over 14 kts or so and white caps are just forming. If I'm alone and just out for a daysail or short cruise, I don't bother moving the sheet cars. With wind speeds at this level, I'm pretty much doing hull speed anyway. However, when I race now and then and have a crew, I do move the cars to maximize boat speed.
and the type of sailing you are doing. As a mostly single-hander, also with a 150 furling genoa with a foam luff, I normally have to shorten the headsail when the winds get at or over 14 kts or so and white caps are just forming. If I'm alone and just out for a daysail or short cruise, I don't bother moving the sheet cars. With wind speeds at this level, I'm pretty much doing hull speed anyway. However, when I race now and then and have a crew, I do move the cars to maximize boat speed.
Tom, the answer is up to you
based on conditions. 1. Wind's building, and expected to get more. Partially furl, don't move car, leech opens, not too bad for windy conditions 'cuz the air is dropping off the now-open top portion of the jib. It's almost like having a fixed sized jib and moving the cars BACK. Think about it... 2. Wind's building from 12 to 18 but expected to stay there. You go from 150 to 120%, but should move the car forward to keep the leech from opening. Try it, you'll see what happens when you do and when you don't.
based on conditions. 1. Wind's building, and expected to get more. Partially furl, don't move car, leech opens, not too bad for windy conditions 'cuz the air is dropping off the now-open top portion of the jib. It's almost like having a fixed sized jib and moving the cars BACK. Think about it... 2. Wind's building from 12 to 18 but expected to stay there. You go from 150 to 120%, but should move the car forward to keep the leech from opening. Try it, you'll see what happens when you do and when you don't.
Foam Luff
A genoa that has been designed to be sailed while partially rolled up will have some way of rolling more material in the mid portion while furling. A foam piece that is tapered toward the top, and bottom (fatter in the middle) is built into the luff. Some sail lofts use several pieces of light weight rope in different lengths to achieve the same thing. This enables the sail to furl more evenly top to bottom. When the jib sheet fairlead is too far back it is pulling more on the lower part of the jib which allows the upper section of the leach (the aft edge of the sail) to twist off to leeward spilling air at the top of the sail. Moving the fairleads forward applies more pull on the upper section preventing the leach from twisting (opening up).
A genoa that has been designed to be sailed while partially rolled up will have some way of rolling more material in the mid portion while furling. A foam piece that is tapered toward the top, and bottom (fatter in the middle) is built into the luff. Some sail lofts use several pieces of light weight rope in different lengths to achieve the same thing. This enables the sail to furl more evenly top to bottom. When the jib sheet fairlead is too far back it is pulling more on the lower part of the jib which allows the upper section of the leach (the aft edge of the sail) to twist off to leeward spilling air at the top of the sail. Moving the fairleads forward applies more pull on the upper section preventing the leach from twisting (opening up).
Foam luff
It's a long piece of foam sewn into the front of the sail to help hold the reef. North Sails built one into the 122 Genoa they made for me. Works well.
It's a long piece of foam sewn into the front of the sail to help hold the reef. North Sails built one into the 122 Genoa they made for me. Works well.
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