I am planning to buy a Racing Genoa for cruising purposes for my H28.5. Did not have any experience of this type of sail before. Is it a good idea?? Are there any major drawbacks?? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks
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Tim Stodola at Doyle Sails
Racing Genoa?
Hi Jim, When you say racing Genoa, are you referring to a Mylar Laminate fabric? If So, are the load bearing fibers in the Laminate, polyester or something like Kevlar? Also are you using it on a Furler? Laminate Fabrics are used quite often on large boats to save weight aloft, and also on many "performance cruisers" looking for more performance out of their sails vs more durability. Used on a Furling system, they actually take less abuse than flaking after every use. But the major drawback to any laminate sailcloth, is the increased possibilty of mildew growth. Unlike Woven fabrics, such as conventional Dacrons, Laminates do not breathe. Moisture build up can cause mildew formation if the sail does not get dried out. This is a bigger problem in the south where humidity is higher, and sails are left on the furling unit all year long. However with proper care, a racing sail can be used on your boat, and you may see a performance difference vs. your cruising Dacron. If used on a furler, you will want to add sun protection to the leech and foot.
Hi Jim, When you say racing Genoa, are you referring to a Mylar Laminate fabric? If So, are the load bearing fibers in the Laminate, polyester or something like Kevlar? Also are you using it on a Furler? Laminate Fabrics are used quite often on large boats to save weight aloft, and also on many "performance cruisers" looking for more performance out of their sails vs more durability. Used on a Furling system, they actually take less abuse than flaking after every use. But the major drawback to any laminate sailcloth, is the increased possibilty of mildew growth. Unlike Woven fabrics, such as conventional Dacrons, Laminates do not breathe. Moisture build up can cause mildew formation if the sail does not get dried out. This is a bigger problem in the south where humidity is higher, and sails are left on the furling unit all year long. However with proper care, a racing sail can be used on your boat, and you may see a performance difference vs. your cruising Dacron. If used on a furler, you will want to add sun protection to the leech and foot.
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Darrel
Racing Sails
An important question to you is, why do you want racing quality head sail if your going cruising? Laminate sails will not have the durability of dacron, they will cost you almost 2x the money and won't last as long. The performance difference will hardly be noticable if you do not trim sails to take advantage, and most cruisers do not trim sails to the fine degree that racing skippers do. Good luck in your decision.
An important question to you is, why do you want racing quality head sail if your going cruising? Laminate sails will not have the durability of dacron, they will cost you almost 2x the money and won't last as long. The performance difference will hardly be noticable if you do not trim sails to take advantage, and most cruisers do not trim sails to the fine degree that racing skippers do. Good luck in your decision.
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ted
Jim, I just bought a racing sail for cruising.
I bought a 133% made from pentex. I race my NACRA cat, but I cruise with my hunter. I love my pentex sail. The control, shape and performance is worth the extra $$$. (at least to me it is) My pentex sail cost about 30% more than dacron. But it is a complete different boat with this sail. I point where I couldnt point before, the draft stays where I put it and I get there faster, plus it looks cool too. The down side is you can't leave the sail on the furler. Can't let moisture get in between the laminates. I put the sail up on Friday. Sail all weekend then take it off the furler Sunday evening. No.. you dont put sunbrella on the leech of a racing sail. Would you put a muffler on a top fueler? But taking the sail down each time is only a small inconvenience. Sabre Sails from Ft Walton Beach made my sails. Their workmanship is the best and they were priced lower than most performance sail makers. I highly recommend them: www.sabresails.com thanks.. Ted
I bought a 133% made from pentex. I race my NACRA cat, but I cruise with my hunter. I love my pentex sail. The control, shape and performance is worth the extra $$$. (at least to me it is) My pentex sail cost about 30% more than dacron. But it is a complete different boat with this sail. I point where I couldnt point before, the draft stays where I put it and I get there faster, plus it looks cool too. The down side is you can't leave the sail on the furler. Can't let moisture get in between the laminates. I put the sail up on Friday. Sail all weekend then take it off the furler Sunday evening. No.. you dont put sunbrella on the leech of a racing sail. Would you put a muffler on a top fueler? But taking the sail down each time is only a small inconvenience. Sabre Sails from Ft Walton Beach made my sails. Their workmanship is the best and they were priced lower than most performance sail makers. I highly recommend them: www.sabresails.com thanks.. Ted
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David Foster
Consider a cruising spinnaker
A racing genny is superior only when sailing to windward in light air. An asymetric cruising spinnaker is a better sail for most other light air uses. (At 60 degrees off the wind with ours on our '77 h27.) For those of us who cruise, going to windward in light air most often involves the "iron genny" anyway. Have a look at the Doyle APC on this site for more description. That's the sail we have. By the way, another big advantage of using a cruising spinnaker is that when the wind picks up, you can easily drop the sock on it, and immediately unfurl a headsail (we have a 110) designed for heavier weather. With a big genny, this would involves getting the big genny down, and hoisting the smaller sail - more than most of us cruisers really want to do. The result is that many cruisers are sailing on over furled, shapeless gennies when the wind gets ofer 15 knots. David Lady Lillie
A racing genny is superior only when sailing to windward in light air. An asymetric cruising spinnaker is a better sail for most other light air uses. (At 60 degrees off the wind with ours on our '77 h27.) For those of us who cruise, going to windward in light air most often involves the "iron genny" anyway. Have a look at the Doyle APC on this site for more description. That's the sail we have. By the way, another big advantage of using a cruising spinnaker is that when the wind picks up, you can easily drop the sock on it, and immediately unfurl a headsail (we have a 110) designed for heavier weather. With a big genny, this would involves getting the big genny down, and hoisting the smaller sail - more than most of us cruisers really want to do. The result is that many cruisers are sailing on over furled, shapeless gennies when the wind gets ofer 15 knots. David Lady Lillie
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Bill O'Donovan
I second Dave
A spinnaker will give you real variety as well as downwind speed, neither of which you'll get from the genny. Doyle is a fine sailmaker as well, and yes you'll appreciate the sock.
A spinnaker will give you real variety as well as downwind speed, neither of which you'll get from the genny. Doyle is a fine sailmaker as well, and yes you'll appreciate the sock.
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John
asymetric
I purchased a asymetric cruising sail this season for my 28.5 and it has greatly improved my down wind performance. I have'nt race with it yet but expect betters things in the future.
I purchased a asymetric cruising sail this season for my 28.5 and it has greatly improved my down wind performance. I have'nt race with it yet but expect betters things in the future.
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jim
It's a Poly-Mylar
Tim, Thanks for your input. The sail I am thinking of buying is a 155% Poly-Mylar reinforced Biradial Genoa by Johnson Sails. I don't really know much about the sails. Yes I plan to put it on the furler and keep it there during the season. Jim
Tim, Thanks for your input. The sail I am thinking of buying is a 155% Poly-Mylar reinforced Biradial Genoa by Johnson Sails. I don't really know much about the sails. Yes I plan to put it on the furler and keep it there during the season. Jim
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jim
Thans for the advise
Ted, Your input is very helpful. The sail I was thinking buying is a used racing sail. In fact I was planning to leave the sail on my furler and use it just as a cruising sail and put on a UV-protection on it. Looks like these are not the right things to do.
Ted, Your input is very helpful. The sail I was thinking buying is a used racing sail. In fact I was planning to leave the sail on my furler and use it just as a cruising sail and put on a UV-protection on it. Looks like these are not the right things to do.
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Tim Stodola at Doyle Sails
Uv Cover
Hi Again Jim, There are alternatives to Sunbrella for UV protection. You may opt for Uv Stabilized Dacron as a suncover, it is far lighter than sunbrella and will not diminish the performance of your Poly/Mylar sail. In the northern climes, with a sail only exposed for the season, the UV Dacron will last a long time, probably as long as the sail. Another option, which we use on Race boats with furlers such as the newer sport boats, is a clear Adhesive back UV protectant Film, known as Tedlar. This is extremely light and virtually invisible on your sail. You won't get as many seasons out of it, but if you remove the sail when you know you'll be gone for more than a week at a time, this could be a viable alternative. Your sailmaker should be able to show you the different materials. But, do not leave it unprotected even over a weekend, those days add up and UV degradation is a sail Killer. One of our favorite sayings here in the south is: "The Sun, a sailmakers best friend"
Hi Again Jim, There are alternatives to Sunbrella for UV protection. You may opt for Uv Stabilized Dacron as a suncover, it is far lighter than sunbrella and will not diminish the performance of your Poly/Mylar sail. In the northern climes, with a sail only exposed for the season, the UV Dacron will last a long time, probably as long as the sail. Another option, which we use on Race boats with furlers such as the newer sport boats, is a clear Adhesive back UV protectant Film, known as Tedlar. This is extremely light and virtually invisible on your sail. You won't get as many seasons out of it, but if you remove the sail when you know you'll be gone for more than a week at a time, this could be a viable alternative. Your sailmaker should be able to show you the different materials. But, do not leave it unprotected even over a weekend, those days add up and UV degradation is a sail Killer. One of our favorite sayings here in the south is: "The Sun, a sailmakers best friend"
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S. Sauer
'Racing' Genoa Advantages
You've already seen a lot of good responses to your question, but here's another thought: If you want performance, just use the foil portion of your roller furling rig and hoist and lower the used racing sail when you want to use it. If you shop around for decent used sails you may find it's easier to afford more than one headsail; used being 1/3 to half the cost of new. Since you have the furler, you can obviously roll up any sail you have hoisted and take it down in the slip at the end of a weekend. I don't agree with the comments on the life span of dacron vs mylar and/or mylar/dacron laminates. It all goes to how you care for the sails. We got 15 years out of a 3.3 oz bi-radial mylar 155%; the 12 year old Dacron/mylar tri-radial 135% is still bulet proof; and my 17 year old dacron 110 is still solid and flat with a straight leach. We take down and flake any genoa we use, never roll them up wet and never let them flogg; and if there were no performance difference, wouldn't all racing sails still be dacron.
You've already seen a lot of good responses to your question, but here's another thought: If you want performance, just use the foil portion of your roller furling rig and hoist and lower the used racing sail when you want to use it. If you shop around for decent used sails you may find it's easier to afford more than one headsail; used being 1/3 to half the cost of new. Since you have the furler, you can obviously roll up any sail you have hoisted and take it down in the slip at the end of a weekend. I don't agree with the comments on the life span of dacron vs mylar and/or mylar/dacron laminates. It all goes to how you care for the sails. We got 15 years out of a 3.3 oz bi-radial mylar 155%; the 12 year old Dacron/mylar tri-radial 135% is still bulet proof; and my 17 year old dacron 110 is still solid and flat with a straight leach. We take down and flake any genoa we use, never roll them up wet and never let them flogg; and if there were no performance difference, wouldn't all racing sails still be dacron.
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