Does a jib sail have to sweep the deck or can it be raised up to have maximum clearence from the deck. thank you for your help and opinion. also a big thanks to Brian and the Boat Babe for thier story of there adventure.
- Status
I'm guessing
that, all other things being equal, a deck sweeping headsail is more efficient than one that is raised off the deck. That said, I have raised my 150 furling headsail off the deck by a foot or so in order to (1) have it clear the pulpit/lifelines to avoid chafe at the foot, and (2) to provide needed visibility under the sail to leeward when sailing alone. These are very worthwhile tradeoffs for me.
that, all other things being equal, a deck sweeping headsail is more efficient than one that is raised off the deck. That said, I have raised my 150 furling headsail off the deck by a foot or so in order to (1) have it clear the pulpit/lifelines to avoid chafe at the foot, and (2) to provide needed visibility under the sail to leeward when sailing alone. These are very worthwhile tradeoffs for me.
Efficiency or safety?
Deck-sweepers are more efficient, trapping the air between sail and deck and letting less escape...great offshore or if you sail with crew for a better lookout; the other downside is chafe at the pulpit or lifelines. A higher fore sail is safer as you can see under it but lets air escape. Good in a blow, though!
Deck-sweepers are more efficient, trapping the air between sail and deck and letting less escape...great offshore or if you sail with crew for a better lookout; the other downside is chafe at the pulpit or lifelines. A higher fore sail is safer as you can see under it but lets air escape. Good in a blow, though!
But what about
the effect of taking the draft position upward? I'd think all else equal, there'd be more heeling. Time for Don and Alan to weigh in.
the effect of taking the draft position upward? I'd think all else equal, there'd be more heeling. Time for Don and Alan to weigh in.
only makes sense on a genoa
It wouldn't make sense to design a jib--as opposed to a genoa--as a deck-sweeper. While the performance of a deck-sweeping genoa is clearly superior for racing, deck-sweepers tend not to perform well in roller-furling applications because the extra weight on the leech will cause the trailing edge of the sail to collapse when it's partially furled. Therefore, if you're only planning on having a single headsail in your inventory, a deck-sweeping genoa would probably be a bad choice, especially if your talking about a #1 (150-155%). If, however, your planning on having two sails, such as a #1 and a #3, designing the genny as a deck-sweeper will give you a performance advantage.
It wouldn't make sense to design a jib--as opposed to a genoa--as a deck-sweeper. While the performance of a deck-sweeping genoa is clearly superior for racing, deck-sweepers tend not to perform well in roller-furling applications because the extra weight on the leech will cause the trailing edge of the sail to collapse when it's partially furled. Therefore, if you're only planning on having a single headsail in your inventory, a deck-sweeping genoa would probably be a bad choice, especially if your talking about a #1 (150-155%). If, however, your planning on having two sails, such as a #1 and a #3, designing the genny as a deck-sweeper will give you a performance advantage.
the cut of the clew....
Cruising sailors will opt for a high cut clew when ordering sails because they offer better visibility, work better on the furler and are safer in a seaway. (the deck sweeping headsail will catch water coming over the deck and funnel it back along the deck towards the cockpit, overloading the scuppers.) Cruising sailors often tack their headsails a foot or so above the deck to allow for pulpit and lifeline clearance. A low clewed, racing sail often requires the crew to "skirt" the sail inside the lifelines. When I single hand, I almost always use my high clewed blade (110) or medium clewed lapper (130) because they provide better visibility and easier handling than my 150% decksweeping genoa
Cruising sailors will opt for a high cut clew when ordering sails because they offer better visibility, work better on the furler and are safer in a seaway. (the deck sweeping headsail will catch water coming over the deck and funnel it back along the deck towards the cockpit, overloading the scuppers.) Cruising sailors often tack their headsails a foot or so above the deck to allow for pulpit and lifeline clearance. A low clewed, racing sail often requires the crew to "skirt" the sail inside the lifelines. When I single hand, I almost always use my high clewed blade (110) or medium clewed lapper (130) because they provide better visibility and easier handling than my 150% decksweeping genoa
Deck sweeper
I don't think there is any question that a high cut jib is far preferrable for anyone single handing and probably most cruisers too. I travel a lot on my boat, single handing most of the time. I don't want to work too hard, want to be able to see what is coming up on the lee side, and don't want to worry about chafe on lifelines and pulpit. So, for me, high cut is the only way to go. Can't speak for the racers, as I have no interest at all in racing. Just too much work for an old retired guy.
I don't think there is any question that a high cut jib is far preferrable for anyone single handing and probably most cruisers too. I travel a lot on my boat, single handing most of the time. I don't want to work too hard, want to be able to see what is coming up on the lee side, and don't want to worry about chafe on lifelines and pulpit. So, for me, high cut is the only way to go. Can't speak for the racers, as I have no interest at all in racing. Just too much work for an old retired guy.
150 Roller Furling Genoa
Very frequently i sail when the lake is crowded with fishermen, some anchored and others trolling. I often sail single handed. Under those conditions I sail with the genoa rolled up 1 or 2 turns, to about 130 %, so that I can have a clear field of vision, even if it means sacrificing some performance. Yesterday I watched as two boats on opposite tacks aproached each other at a perpendicular angle. Each boat had a deck sweeping genoa and both operators were blind to the other boat. They missed each other by maybe 10 feet or so. and until they passed, I do not think they had any clue that the other boat was there. One was a J22, and the other was a Hunter 26.
Very frequently i sail when the lake is crowded with fishermen, some anchored and others trolling. I often sail single handed. Under those conditions I sail with the genoa rolled up 1 or 2 turns, to about 130 %, so that I can have a clear field of vision, even if it means sacrificing some performance. Yesterday I watched as two boats on opposite tacks aproached each other at a perpendicular angle. Each boat had a deck sweeping genoa and both operators were blind to the other boat. They missed each other by maybe 10 feet or so. and until they passed, I do not think they had any clue that the other boat was there. One was a J22, and the other was a Hunter 26.
Deck sweepers
As a 'former' racer, I have both my 155% and my 135% Genoas cut as deck sweepers. They touch the deck when sheeted inside the life lines on a beat. I have 3" to 4" diameter tape dispenser wheels threaded onto the life lines just in front of the two forward staunchions to 'help' the sail over the life lines. I would be the first to say deck sweepers are a problem for forward visibility. That is the trade off for slightly better eficiency and pointing, particularly in light air. I have a medium high cut 110% jib for heavy air, but with the boat heeled over at least 15 degrees there will always be visibility issues with any head sail.
As a 'former' racer, I have both my 155% and my 135% Genoas cut as deck sweepers. They touch the deck when sheeted inside the life lines on a beat. I have 3" to 4" diameter tape dispenser wheels threaded onto the life lines just in front of the two forward staunchions to 'help' the sail over the life lines. I would be the first to say deck sweepers are a problem for forward visibility. That is the trade off for slightly better eficiency and pointing, particularly in light air. I have a medium high cut 110% jib for heavy air, but with the boat heeled over at least 15 degrees there will always be visibility issues with any head sail.
A few years ago...
A J-24 almost T-boned me in a race as we crossed tacks. He was on port, I was on starboard, and I kept watching to see his head as he looked around the sweeper-cut 150 he had up. He never looked. We yelled "Starboard!" a couple of times as we rapidly approached each other, then by that time I didn't really want him to know I was there, as I was sure he would do something unpredictable and I had decided to duck him. As we passed at max speed, less than a boatlength apart, he finally saw us and his eyes got very large. A few moments later he yelled, "Sorry!" High cut clews aren't quite as fast, but one might keep you from having to apologize or worse someday.
A J-24 almost T-boned me in a race as we crossed tacks. He was on port, I was on starboard, and I kept watching to see his head as he looked around the sweeper-cut 150 he had up. He never looked. We yelled "Starboard!" a couple of times as we rapidly approached each other, then by that time I didn't really want him to know I was there, as I was sure he would do something unpredictable and I had decided to duck him. As we passed at max speed, less than a boatlength apart, he finally saw us and his eyes got very large. A few moments later he yelled, "Sorry!" High cut clews aren't quite as fast, but one might keep you from having to apologize or worse someday.
- Status