Jib with extension at bottom ?

[elvatoli]

I'm planning to add an extension to the front bottom part of the jib in my Venture 25.
Since the Jib is a fractional arrangement, when I pull the jib at 3/4 up the mast is not going all the way up, because the front bottom part is attached to the front plate. So if I add an extension, made of, steel cable, to this lower front part of the jib, and attach the extension to the front plate, I can have the jib a foot up in the mast, so that way I can "see" more to the front under the jib.
Does anybody knows if doing this the jib will not work well ?.
Thanks for your advice.
Hector
Port Isabel, Texas

 

[dancing bear]

I've wondered about that too, although my agenda was to get the jib a little bit higher relative to the bow stanchion, thinking this would give the jib a better shape. Maybe, maybe not, but I am interested in what others have to say.

 

[walt]

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=577055

This came up from search on "raising genoa" (I wanted to test the search since the forum was upgraded last fall)

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Raise your foot!

Yes, I did try that, on my 26M. It seems the forestay is about 8"-10" longer than the jib and genoa luff. When I had hank-ons I tried hoisting the jib all the way without attaching the tack, then pulled down on the tack to see what the difference was (between the tack and foretang attachment)and saw there was about 8" to spare. I just wanted to keep the jib/genoa foot from hanging on the pullpit so I bought a little 6" SS extension (something like a chainplate) and attached it to the foretang so that the tack of the headsail would be higher. It worked fine enough, no real problems, the foot of the headsails were raised somewhat but still hung a bit on the pullpit, just not as much as before. I suppose shape was improved, but I would also think I raised the heeling point by 6" on the headsails as well. I doubt the 6" added to my ability to see under the foot of the headsails any better when heeled but I liked to think so. The main concern for me was to keep the foot of the headsail from draping over the pulpit so much.
I now have a roller furler so that little assembly has since been removed.

 

[theland39]

What does raising the jib do to boat speed? Is it better to lower it to the deck when I race?

 

[TC22454]

Generally, a deck sweeper traps all the air and increases speed. But, a higher sail keeps the foam out of the sail if its' rough and you don't have a storm sail.

 

[Beija Flor]

Also known as a "tack pennant" ...

I'm planning to add an extension to the front bottom part of the jib in my Venture 25 ... if I add an extension, made of, steel cable, to this lower front part of the jib, and attach the extension to the front plate, I can have the jib a foot up in the mast, so that way I can "see" more to the front under the jib.

IMHO, there's not much downside to using a tack pennant with your jib. Maybe close-hauled in big winds ....

But consider a drum furler. That moves the tack of the jib up from the forestay tang, too.

There's no need to go with steel cable, though - how about tying a short loop of polyester line through the tack grommet of your jib? If it's strong enough for your halliard, it should be strong enough for a tack pennant. I would tie a carrick bend, so I could untie and adjust the loop till it was what I wanted.

 

[oreana123]

I attach a pennant to all of my headsails. Another way to look at it is you'll want to raise the sail up in light airs, lower it in heavier velocities. Deck sweeping is pretty much screwed on any Mac that has a bow pulpit, sometimes raising your sail up the forestay can actually allow the foot to have a nice shape as it clears the tubing up front. John S