genoa size

[Johnston Jeff]

I am having new sails made and need to decide on a good size for my all purpose genoa. I mainly lake cruse on weekends but like performance and will do a little racing. My H25.5 has a listed J of 10 ft but I measured mine at more like 9'7". My old genoa has an LP of 14'5" that would make it about a 145% according to the manfactures J, closer to a 155% according to my measurements. We have lots of light wind days but it can blow and I want the ability to reef and not loose too much sail shape. The masthead rigged 25.5 can be tender. My sailmaker thinks I should go to a 150 using the manfacturers J of 10 feet. With my actual measured J as less I wonder if I should stick with the size of the current genoa. Any thoughts. I know that designing an all purpose sail is asking a lot but most of us do not change sails that much unless we are race obsessed. As I said I do like good performance but keeping things simple keeps my wife involved and it is her boat also.Jeff

 

[David Foster]

110

If you couple a 110 jib with a cruising asymetric spinnaker, you have the best set up IMHO. In fact, if you really want simplicity, get a self tacking jib (slightly less than 100, with rigging that makes shheting the jib unnecessary on a tack.A 150 is a racing rule beater, that works well into the wind in light air, but doesn't work very well with the wind aft of the beam. And if the wind picks up you just have too much sail up! An asymetric works even better in light winds up to 60 degrees actual wind angle, and is just super reaching and running.The smaller jib gives you good sails, if the wind moves 10 to 20, and very good balance when you reef your main at the high end.Anyway, that's my idea.DavidLady Lillie