Head Sail for Cat-30

[Allen]

I'm currently enjoying my first season with a 1977 C-30 SR and I'm not getting good sailing performance. I noticed I have a 100 headsail, but what's worse is that the top of the sail only gets to about 4' shy of the masthead when fully raised. There is a cable that attaches from the top of the sail to the halyard to make up for the lack of sail height. Is this normal, or could it be that the prior owner bought the wrong sail for the boat? Either way I'm going to be getting a new headsail and I was also wondering what size I should get: 135, 150? Any opinions out there, especially about the height of the sail I already have? Thanks in advance!!

 

[Rick]

Wrong size

It sounds like you are using a "swapmeet sail". Anything that fits will work but that doesn't make it right. You should be using a sail with a luff dimension of around 39 ft (+ or -). My C30's jib has a luff of 39'4" but that is with a roller furler.How long of a foot you want depends on the sailing conditions of your area. The lighter the wind the longer the foot. A 135% (LP = 15'6") is a good general purpose sail but too big in high wind (over 20kts) and too small in light winds (under 5 kts). Dont confuse LP length with foot length.Here are two links where you might find a good used sail at a decent price:http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/and http://www.thesailwarehouse.com/Also check out: http://www.sailrite.com/Check "Sail Kit pricing". There you can look up your boat and find the dimensions of various size sails for your boat. You can even order a kit if you are so inclined and sew your self a new perfectly fitted sail.

 

[Allen]

Thanks Rick

Hey Rick,Thank you! You're confirming what I thought was true. I'll check out those sites.--Allen

 

[Michael Hagerman]

New Sails

I just bought BOTH new mainsail (last year) and a new jib (last month) for MY 1977 Cat 30SR (Hull No. 979 I think). I highly recommend Doyle Sails, Marblehead. Not only can you pick up your sail but you can watch them being made and meet the owner. They may not be the cheapest, but their sails are works of art. When I replaced the jib, I went with a 135%.