I am interested in increasing my genoa from 110% to 150% for my Hunter 326. Anyone with experience in this area? I'm interested in sailing characteristics after making the change. Thanks for your time, Dan Dyrek
- Status
I'm not sure it will be worth while
I'd recommend a Poleless spinnaker instead. The 150% wont help you much upwind as a 100 to 110 jib will provide the best upwind shape and it is the shape that is most important for the jib upwind not the size. For down wind the 150% wont help as much as a spinnaker. the B&R rig is pretty fast down wind with a Spinnaker on one side sheeted to the boom and jib on the otherthe jib poled to the otherside with the whisker pole. If you haven't got the whisker pole yet then definately get that before you buy anymore sails. I've past faster boats going downwind with my whisker pole on a working jib while they were using a 150% genny without the pole.
I'd recommend a Poleless spinnaker instead. The 150% wont help you much upwind as a 100 to 110 jib will provide the best upwind shape and it is the shape that is most important for the jib upwind not the size. For down wind the 150% wont help as much as a spinnaker. the B&R rig is pretty fast down wind with a Spinnaker on one side sheeted to the boom and jib on the otherthe jib poled to the otherside with the whisker pole. If you haven't got the whisker pole yet then definately get that before you buy anymore sails. I've past faster boats going downwind with my whisker pole on a working jib while they were using a 150% genny without the pole.
Agree with Asymetrical
Frank's point is a good one - suggest going with an asymetrical first after the whisker pole. A 150 is more labor-intensive because it will require sail changes which is a lot more work than launching and retriving an asymetrical, assuming you're okay with that. However, flying an asymetrical requires a little more skill as "things can happen" like hourglassing or the chute going over the side into the water and becomming a sea anchor. On the other hand they're a LOT of FUN!
Frank's point is a good one - suggest going with an asymetrical first after the whisker pole. A 150 is more labor-intensive because it will require sail changes which is a lot more work than launching and retriving an asymetrical, assuming you're okay with that. However, flying an asymetrical requires a little more skill as "things can happen" like hourglassing or the chute going over the side into the water and becomming a sea anchor. On the other hand they're a LOT of FUN!
Asymetric with a sock
Another advantage of the asymetric with a sock is that it is easily rigged before casting off - so we can shift from the 110 to the asymetric when the wind dies off. By the way, a good asymetric can sail a close reach in light air. When the winds dropped from 10 to 15 to 5 to 10 knots coming home from Put-in-Bay on Sunday, we were doing 3 to 5 knots in 45 degree apparent winds. Our friends with big gennies were motoring in those same winds. We've been on day long cruises when the wind came back later - so we just drop the sock, and unfurl the 110. My buddies with big gennies never seem to change to the more appropriate smaller jib when the wind pipes up, preferring to tolerate a lousy sail shape, excessive heel, and reduced drive from a genny that has been furled too far. I'm going to have to try the wing on wing trick with the 110 and the asymetric. Sounds much better than the continual collapsing of the asymetric behind the main. We have had great success on the other solution - don't run! Instead, we gybe downwind about 40 degrees above a straight run - so both the main and the asymetric are really pulling well. David Lady Lillie
Another advantage of the asymetric with a sock is that it is easily rigged before casting off - so we can shift from the 110 to the asymetric when the wind dies off. By the way, a good asymetric can sail a close reach in light air. When the winds dropped from 10 to 15 to 5 to 10 knots coming home from Put-in-Bay on Sunday, we were doing 3 to 5 knots in 45 degree apparent winds. Our friends with big gennies were motoring in those same winds. We've been on day long cruises when the wind came back later - so we just drop the sock, and unfurl the 110. My buddies with big gennies never seem to change to the more appropriate smaller jib when the wind pipes up, preferring to tolerate a lousy sail shape, excessive heel, and reduced drive from a genny that has been furled too far. I'm going to have to try the wing on wing trick with the 110 and the asymetric. Sounds much better than the continual collapsing of the asymetric behind the main. We have had great success on the other solution - don't run! Instead, we gybe downwind about 40 degrees above a straight run - so both the main and the asymetric are really pulling well. David Lady Lillie
Why?
I put a 135% on my 320, and figured out how to increase it to a 155%. I sold the boat and bought a 356, and I have modified it to run a 155% from what I learned on the 320. I did this because I race the boats. If you don't race, then I would strongly suggest that you don't do it. Get an cruising ASM (I have my old one from the 320), and you will be much happier. If you still want info on the 155%, I can help you out. E-mail me off line and I can give you all the details, including a good sailmaker that has learned from our experience with the 320/356. Steve sestyles@yahoo.com
I put a 135% on my 320, and figured out how to increase it to a 155%. I sold the boat and bought a 356, and I have modified it to run a 155% from what I learned on the 320. I did this because I race the boats. If you don't race, then I would strongly suggest that you don't do it. Get an cruising ASM (I have my old one from the 320), and you will be much happier. If you still want info on the 155%, I can help you out. E-mail me off line and I can give you all the details, including a good sailmaker that has learned from our experience with the 320/356. Steve sestyles@yahoo.com
Another trick with the 110%...
One thing I have learned with all the headsail changes on the 320/356 deals with sheet placement. When running downwind, move your lazy jib sheet to the spinnaker block attached to the arch. This gets the sail out from behind the main much better, and it actually draws and pulls the boat. This will easliy give you more speed, without any additional cost. However, a whisker pole will do the same thing and better, but there you have cost. Steve
One thing I have learned with all the headsail changes on the 320/356 deals with sheet placement. When running downwind, move your lazy jib sheet to the spinnaker block attached to the arch. This gets the sail out from behind the main much better, and it actually draws and pulls the boat. This will easliy give you more speed, without any additional cost. However, a whisker pole will do the same thing and better, but there you have cost. Steve
Increased Weather Helm
I think you could expect significat increase in weather helm with a large Genoa. Hunters are designed to sail with a large main and 110 jib, and as the others have said above, an assymetric or spinnaker for downwind. The rig is already tuned for a safe abount of weather helm, but the 150 will change your center of resistance more than you might think. You will need to decrease the amount of bend and rake if you fly the larger headsail in anything but lighter winds. Check the archives on rig tuning and weather helm.
I think you could expect significat increase in weather helm with a large Genoa. Hunters are designed to sail with a large main and 110 jib, and as the others have said above, an assymetric or spinnaker for downwind. The rig is already tuned for a safe abount of weather helm, but the 150 will change your center of resistance more than you might think. You will need to decrease the amount of bend and rake if you fly the larger headsail in anything but lighter winds. Check the archives on rig tuning and weather helm.
David
I'm a lazy sailor and I've found that the Assymetric does better with the main down when going downwind. You can raise the chute in the lee of the main and then lower the main and sail dead downwind pretty darn fast. It's easy to raise the main and lower the chute later. I bet you'll lose less than half a knot and at times you're VMG will actually improve.
I'm a lazy sailor and I've found that the Assymetric does better with the main down when going downwind. You can raise the chute in the lee of the main and then lower the main and sail dead downwind pretty darn fast. It's easy to raise the main and lower the chute later. I bet you'll lose less than half a knot and at times you're VMG will actually improve.
- Status