Jib, headsail numbering system
- Thread starter jviss
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http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=39366
(found on Google with "#1 jib" in the search box, could have done from the search engine on this board, a great tool)
(found on Google with "#1 jib" in the search box, could have done from the search engine on this board, a great tool)
Interesting to see that posting I made over ten years ago. Just to clarify, I was quoting from the great sail trim book by Tom Whidden (North Sails) entitled "The Art and Science of Sails" So... don't slam me because you have a different definition. Anyway, a section of his book discusses optimal sail inventory for racing and cruising depending on boat size, and he explains the numbering system thusly:
Another interesting way of describing sails is to name them.... so the #1 would be a genoa(again... light, medium, heavy), the #2 would be a lapper, the #3 is the working jib, and the #4 is the storm jib.
Great, Joe, now I'm still confused about spinnakers. Why can't it just be symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers. Why the gotta have code 0's, and gennakers, and cruising asyms, and drifters, and on my boat, Neil Pryde made a "spanker," which I assume was their brand of cruising asym... 
Near as I can gather, there are different numbered asyms, which correspond to different levels of wind speed, and usually only matter to racers. I'm guessing code 0's are the biggest, and roundest, of the racing asyms, and as the number goes up, they get smaller, flatter, and probably heavier material. You'd hoist higher number asyms as the wind gets up.
Brian
Near as I can gather, there are different numbered asyms, which correspond to different levels of wind speed, and usually only matter to racers. I'm guessing code 0's are the biggest, and roundest, of the racing asyms, and as the number goes up, they get smaller, flatter, and probably heavier material. You'd hoist higher number asyms as the wind gets up.
Brian
You do not have to worry about these sails on your boat. The O'Day is a pretty simple rig with a pretty simple suit of sails. Unless you want to start a sailmakers health and welfare fund I suggest you stick to the basics. A well made dacron main and a jib that fits your local sailing conditions will do just fine. IOR style boats are going out of favor for exactly the reason that they need so many different sails. Most modern boats sport a fractional rig with a smallish jib and a big adjustable main.Great, Joe, now I'm still confused about spinnakers. Why can't it just be symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers. Why the gotta have code 0's, and gennakers, and cruising asyms, and drifters, and on my boat, Neil Pryde made a "spanker," which I assume was their brand of cruising asym...
Near as I can gather, there are different numbered asyms, which correspond to different levels of wind speed, and usually only matter to racers. I'm guessing code 0's are the biggest, and roundest, of the racing asyms, and as the number goes up, they get smaller, flatter, and probably heavier material. You'd hoist higher number asyms as the wind gets up.
Brian
The "Code Zero" was born of the America's Cup racing of a decade ago. Every sail had a wind range and were numbered accordingly. It was a reaching foresail that had a flat enough shape to sail reasonably close to the wind. It was really a beautiful shape. Round where it needed to be and flat elsewhere. I think, the sail went by the wayside with the advent of the sprit boats which flew the asymmetric spinnaker. Really, the boats I see with asymmetric spinnakers have one or maybe two. This business of so many sails is passé in around the buoys racing. Ocean distance racing is a different animal.
The number system used in the article I quoted was for upwind sails and was written in the 80's. Reaching and downwind sails have no such continuity as far as numbers go... unless the skipper wants to assign an alternative system for the sake of the crew.
Even though the trend is to non overlapping headsails with large adjustable mains, many of us still sail boats from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Most of which are masthead rigged. So it makes sense to understand the legacy of your boat's era.
The names of sails can be interesting to know..... I suggest you google that subject and you'll most likely find a list.... then you can have fun with your sail inventory.
For instance, besides my loose footed mainsail, I have a blade, a lapper, a deck sweeping genoa, tall staysail, 3/4 oz full cut spinnaker and a gennaker. Some skippers I've crewed for have a
jib-top, a yankee, a blooper, a 1/2 oz spinnaker.....
Square riggers had a myriad of named sails..... courses, topsails, t'gallant, royals, skysails, a variety of jibs and staysails... all defined by what mast they served and, of course, the all important spanker..... Which is the fore and aft gaff rigged sail on the mizzen. It was crucial to keeping the helm under control. I have no idea what the Neil Pride version was for.
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