Looking for Genoa advice 1981 Hunter 30

[bommers]

Hi -

I need some advice on sail selection for a boat I just bought, a Hunter 30, 1981. Boat does not have roller furler, and came with what seems like from my measuring a 120 and 170 (i know thats big) hanked on jibs, and a some sort of a spin also.

I will be saiing in the midwest on a large resevour for pleasure and the occasional week-end races (windward leeward beer can events).

I am probably putting on a Harken MKIV size 1 roller furler, and need help with genoa size. Sounds like everyone is putting on a 150-155, if no other reason, than to max out PHRF rules.

I see a lot of boats going up and down the lake Genoa only, with big 150s when pleasure sailing. (also for less work ?)

My sailing background is racing hobies competitively for the last 20 years, so I understand the importance of being set up with the right gear for racing, but want a manageable boat when by myself or with two as I will be sailing often shorthanded.

Main and 150 Geona by myself, will need to furl with any wind.
Genoa 150 by itself, also a big sail for one guy winch with wind.
Main and small genoa, seems good for singlehanded, slow in light air.

Everything is a trade-off. Do the new Genoas with foam or rope in the
luff really make a good sail shape if furled significantly?

What does this boat really like for good upwind performance. I've read this boat can really point with 150 when tuned right. I've got a full keel by the way.

Thanks for any advice. Will probably just get a 150 and learn to use it.

-Paul Bommersbach

PS- sailed a 2005 Catalina 40 in St. Vincent and Grenadines for a week last spring. 150 Genoa always overpowered in daily 17-20 knot breezes, sail shape always sucked when furled.


Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post.

 

[Ed Schenck]

As you so aptly describe it the decision has to be a compromise. As soon as you install that furler then optimum racing sets go out the window. On one lake that I race on almost everyone flies a 150 all the time. On Lake Erie where I keep my big boat a 150 would be furled more than half the time. Your experience with the C40 is about right I think.

 

[H30Gary]

My H30 came with with what I think is a 150% or so genoa. With this sail and a full main the boat is overpowered upwind in anything over about 12 knots. I'd like to find a smaller jib, maybe something in the 90 to 120 range for higher winds.

My boat has roller furling, but I haven't tried reefing with the roller. I'm sure the sail shape gets sucky pretty fast.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Check with the fleet where you race, but 155% is considered the max for PHRF handicapping without taking a hit (as you presumed). Roller furling for racing is not a bad thing for some boats. Many one-design race boats use roller furling as standard equipment and is acceptable within class rules (and cannot be removed). Cruising genoas usually have a foam luff (most sail makers) or a rope luff (North Sails) to give the furled genoa more draft, which otherwise is lost when reefing with a roller furler system. Both Selden (the best furler in my opinion) and Harken (almost as good) have split drums where you can remove the furling drum for racing. This means you can buy a full hoist genoa and use the furling extrusion as you would if you had a Tuff Luff or Head Foil system. So you would dedicate the 155% with the head raised with the halyard and no upper swivel, and the tack corner, attached to the stem head fitting and not where it goes atop the furling drum. That way you have the maximum hoist for your boat which will present the largest headsail you can buy. If you don't want to bother with removing the lower drum when you race, then have a 155% sail built for the furling system you end up buying (they provide sail maker's specs to make sure the sail fits their system). You have the ease of furling/reefing, but compromise with a smaller sail. When you buy your genoa, let the sailmaker know that you will be racing with the sail. That way he will not make the clew so high as seen in a cruising sail.

 

[Benny17441]

Check the prevalent wind conditions in your area. The idea would be to be able to sail at least 80% of the time with the headsail fully deployed and not being overpowered. Like you say once you start to reef with the furler there goes sail shape. Another alternative would be to have that big genoa you currently have altered so that it can be raised in the foil for those days of lesser winds.