Genoa Sizing

[johnsons185]

Hi All,

Im hoping to add to my sail wardrobe this winter, i only have one genoa and its a 150% and i find it very limiting as to when i can sail with it.

I have been reading that a 130% is a good size to go for but i would also need somthing smaller for high winds.
Any suggestions?

Also how does the sizing work is it light airs then a size 1, size 2, and storm?

I was hoping if i got the 130% and another that would be suffice, does anyone have the sizes for theese?

regards

scott
Vega 891

 

[bv0820]

I used a storm jib at 25K with a double reef main. Went like a bat out of hell.
Sent on the Sprint? Now Network from my BlackBerry?

 

[Vega1447]

I used a full furling genoa (unfurled) with double reefed main in same
winds on Saturday. A little overcanvassed but went like a flying mouse
out of the infernal regions too...

John V1447 Breakaway

 

[dougpol1]

On 09/13/2010 11:44 AM, John Kinsella wrote:

 

[eliassonguitars]

It would be good to know if you are talking about roller furling genua or one with shanks.
I have a 170% roller furling and its way to big, so I have just ordered a 125 roller with foam pads.

If you are using shanks (no roller) and you find that the standard max genua which is 150% is to limited, then a 130 could be a choice, but I think you would need a total of 3 front sails.
You could also go for a 120% (around 160sqf)and a 11 -12m2 (118 - 129sqf) maybe with a reefing option.
With a 120% genua and double reefed main you should be able to beat (or tack) in 20 - 26kn depending on sailing alone or with a heavy crew.

We all sail in different manners and in places with different wind, sea and current, and some find that the Vega needs a lot of fore sail. I dont agree and prefer a small genua most of the time. This summer I beated in some 36kn and you need to double reef the main and a small jib (Not storm jib) in order to control the boat and even so, the main needs to be sheeted quite loosely.

Anders
V1118

 

[johnsons185]

Hi Anders,

My current set up is a roller furling genoa(150%) with foam luff new from dolphin sails last year. I have sailed in 25knt plus winds with it rolled in and the main double reefed, but with it being so big and rolling in so much it does'nt hold its shape to well and im worried i may blow or damage the sail by keeping doing this.

I spoke to dolphin again and they though a 130% and a blade might do for me, what does anyone think?

Ill tell you what though i let the lot out running before the wind in a local club race in these type of conditions and a contessa 32 struggled to get by me!

Good old boat.

Scott

 

[tim_klynn]

I've got a 142 from Airforce Sails and a 135 from Doyle. I've been using the 142 in the light air of summer, but now that the gusts are back for fall, I've switched back to the 135. Last race weekend we probably had 8-15 knots of steady wind, with gusts probably to 25-30 knots (with the 135 furled a foot or two and we still were blown over so the genoa track was under water for a while, even with the mainsheet on the reefed main let way out and the traveler down).
Several of the other boats blew out slugs on their main during that race. The trickiest part was that the gusts kept switching direction 90 degrees or so, pretty rapidly. After awhile, we gave up on trying to tack the boat on headers and lifts and just kept the boat pointing at the mark and just tacked the sails. At the mark close to shore, we tacked the sails over 3 times in about 150 yds. In lighter, more stable wind conditions, the 135 also works well held out on a whisker pole going downwind. We got a 1st place in our phrf fleet that weekend, but only because the other boats in our fleet were either too scared to go out or their motors were too weak to back them out of their windward slips.

For the varied wind conditions around here, I would probably get a 110 or so for the really gusty days of spring and fall, the 135 or 142 for "normal" sailing and I will probably get a light 155 for the summer doldrums.

 

[eliassonguitars]

Ok, meaning that you want a new roller furling genua?

I know exactly what you say about big genuas roled in to much. I reaches a point where its not helping anything because of the lousy shape of the sail when rolled in more than 120cm (4\') And I also find that a 150% roller furling genua is to big for a Vega. It works well for the typical IOR boats from the 70 - 80th, but that doesnt mean it´ll work on a Vega which is narrower and has a lower percentage og weight in the keel.
I just ordered one, a 125%. The reasond were that I think it´l be enough, and at least it´ll have a fair shape when you need to sail with less sail. I know that I´ll miss the big one when sailing in less than 8kn. But, I´m 100% a cruiser and then I´ll just take my time and enjoy life.
In the end, local conditions are different for each and everyone. This summer I had a lot of everything. 0 - 36kn.
Something around 120 - 130 sounds like a good solution for you.

 

[robwhelton]

Just to chip in with my recent experience.
Inherited a 150% genoa without padding when I bought the boat. It was utterly hopeless. In my local conditions (usually quite strong) I found you almost always needed to roll away a bit of the genoa, and in stronger conditions you needed to roll away so much that the sail became useless.
I now use a 130% with padding and it works a treat. Use it full most of the time and with a few rolls in it, it still works very well. I have sailed in 25-30kt conditions with it only rolled away to the first marker- I haven't had the need to use it any smaller than that so as far as I'm concerned it's the right size for me. Perhaps I lose a little bit of downwind performance compared to the old (bigger) sail, but I hope to rectify that by getting a spinnaker.