New Main and Now Backstay Issues

[azguy]

Well, I got my new main from Rolly Tasker with full battens, it came with more roach than I had planned on. It seems everyone is cutting larger roach into sails and being on an inland lake where winds are light to moderate I guess it's a good idea.

But now, I need some suggestion on getting the main to clear the backstay with minimal effort, I'm sure it will get better with time as the sail works itself in but hitting the back stay with one hand and allowing the stay to pass under is sort of a pain when tacking single handed along with everything else to perform a quick smooth tack.

Should I add a backstay flicker or maybe even jib rollers on the backstay or maybe even snap on cable covers...

 

[justsomeguy]

Send it back?

 

[CaptDon01]

Sail makers that are not familiar with the rigging of the C-22 often make this mistake. The boom is VERY close to the backstay, closer than many other boats,(why a boom-vang is so important on a C-22). One thing you can do is not hoist the main all the way up. Another is to gently pull down on the end of the boom when the leech of the sail hangs up on the backstay. Another is to call the folks at the Sail Warehouse and tell them the problem your having. It's not a "full batten" problem, it's a sail problem. My Ullman full batten main doesn't have this issue. The problem won't get better, that's one of the nice things about a full batten main, the sail doesn't flog, so they normally last longer.

Good luck,

Don

 

[azguy]

I called sail warehouse and they are quite confident that the sail should fit without any issues from the backstay having sold thousands of these for C22's. He feels as if I do not have enough mast rake...

The owner suggested that I measure the headstay and make sure it was 26'11" from "pin to pin" and that should provide enough mast rake to have the sail fit perfectly. He also suggested cutting 1-1.5" off each batten.

He claimed the tolerances are quite tight and a perfect fit is just inside the backstay by centimeters or the slightest touch....

I'll keep you 'all posted..

 

[c22sailor]

My new racing main has more roach and hangs up in light air too. It is not a problem at all when the wind picks up. However, when it does hang up, I do a quick release of the adjustable backstay, and then harden up again after the sail tacks over. Or sometimes just shaking the backstay will release the main as well. It is not so much of a problem that I would change the sail configuration. I actually like more roach for the light air and downwind sailing is much improved!

 

[azguy]

I had an instructor with me on Sunday and that's what she said and we worked on that. In good air it passed fine, in the dreaded almost "nill" air of mid-afternoon, we either just pulled the boom down or pushed the backstay up and the sail passed...

However, after spending $750, I was hoping for less effort and more satisfaction during tacks....

I will say the sail shape with full battens is impressive and I do think the battens are a hair long and that will help if I take an inch or so off of them..

 

[justsomeguy]

I had an instructor with me on Sunday and that's what she said and we worked on that. -snip

Lynn?

 

[azguy]

Lynn?

Yes, she sails with me every other Sunday

 

[Jackdaw]

Check to see if your full battens have a front and a back. Good ones will be stiffer in the back and bend easier in the front. In backwards they will not clear the backstay as easily.

Or you can ask RT to send you a softer set of battens. Might be better for your light air venue.

Rollers on the stay can help too.

 

[HillbillyWanderer]

I know two guys who have racing sails for the Cat22 have the same problem. I am like you would not want to pay all that money only to have the main catch when tacking. I see them jerking on their rigs during races. I will be watching this thread to see what happens. Hoping to buy some racing sails before next season.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Jackdaw's post also led me to wonder if you have enough tension on the battens, hard to tell from pics but top 2 look okay, but at number 3 it appears there's a lot of batten pocket flap extending beyond the leech and not as much "pre-bend" in the sail at that point.

 

[azguy]

I did manage to get batten #3 deeper into the pocket, it just took some serious effort, it looks like the others now.

I think the 1st step will be to take an inch or so off each one and make sure the forestay in the correct length per the Sail Warehouse. Then I'll re-evaluate the situation. At least he's aware I have a concern about the sail if I decide to go in another direction.

It's a beautiful sail and appears very well made and the shape is really nice width the full battens.

I may put a wheel or two on the backstay also....there cheap...

 

[seanshine]

Not so quick cutting the battens. It sometimes takes a while for them to make their way fully into the batten pocket. I had this same probllem with a Sail Warehouse mainsail a while back. I didn't ask Jim at SWH, but I cut them off about an inch. Now they are an inch too short. I'm thinking the mailsail will fit perfectly. Give it some time. SWH puts out some awesome sails... SS

 

[watercolors II]

Adjustable boom height.

Some of the mfg’s of trailerable sailboats have the boom at a permeant fixed position on the mast. The Catalina 22 with the boom inserted into the sail slot of the mast allows you to set the boom at any height except for the luff length of the mainsail.

Your photo shows about 3 inches of sail leech beyond the backstay, lowering your boom about 6 inches it should clear, lower it 8 inches would be about perfect. The jam cleat in the sail slot below the boom is adjustable by loosening the two screws and sliding the cleat down the mast.

 

[azguy]

Thanks, I did drop the boom about 4" and the sail passes better and only hangs up slightly in the lightest winds. A quick nudge of the backstay and it passes no problem. In moderate winds, it passes fine...

After 3 sailing sessions it's not nearly as irritating as it was the first time out. I'm also going to take an 1" of the battens as directed by the sail warehouse people. Down the road I may ad a flicker to the top of the mast, it's easy and cheap to do if I have some other reason to drop the mast...

I'll have to admit the sail shape is fantastic.

 

[Jackdaw]

If you have a backstay adjuster, adding a backstay flicker can make light air tacking a breeze. The flicker holds the backstay away from the main when the stay is eased. Our main has a huge roach and this makes light air tacking possible.

 

[watercolors II]

sail shape is fantastic

You say the sail shape is fantastic. You know everything on a sailboat is a compromise. Those battens are stretching the sail cloth and thus bending the batten that achieves that fantastic sail shape. Shorting the batten will be a compromise on that fantastic sail shape.

 

[azguy]

If you have a backstay adjuster, adding a backstay flicker can make light air tacking a breeze. The flicker holds the backstay away from the main when the stay is eased. Our main has a huge roach and this makes light air tacking possible.

Is that just an old batten or did you by the rbs, I'm going to do that when I have a reason to drop the mast as I do have an adjustable backstay...

 

[azguy]

You say the sail shape is fantastic. You know everything on a sailboat is a compromise. Those battens are stretching the sail cloth and thus bending the batten that achieves that fantastic sail shape. Shorting the batten will be a compromise on that fantastic sail shape.

Thanks, I'm aware...sail warehouse suggested 3/4"-1', actually claimed the cut the battens a hair longer than really needed. I'm not sure why they would do that....

 

[Jackdaw]

Is that just an old batten or did you by the rbs, I'm going to do that when I have a reason to drop the mast as I do have an adjustable backstay...

It's just an old batten. I mounted a small clip to the aft end for the stay. The batten is held to the mast crane by two small SS screws with washers.

The batten will need to be rather stiff; pretty sure the old ones from your old main will not be strong enough; you might need to go find one from a bigger boat and cut it.