I am a new owner of a 1986 h34 and I plan on trying my luck at some club racing.The boat came with a 110% & A 150% head sail, the seller told me that the 150% was to much sail for the boat,another sailer said I should use the 150%. I'll be sailing in winds between 8 to 18kts. any suggestions? Thanks, John
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The 150 is Good below 15 Knots
You'll get your but kicked with the 110 in light air. Been there - done that Barry s/v 'PER DIEM too'
You'll get your but kicked with the 110 in light air. Been there - done that Barry s/v 'PER DIEM too'
If racing PHRF, time penalty for Genoa over 140%
If you can afford it, get a 135% Genoa (to allow for stretch) and avoid the 6 seconds per mile penalty that PHRF imposes on Genoas 140% or over. Of course, PHRF is a joke anyhow. They rated my Legend 37.5 (PHRF 126) at 13 seconds per mile faster than the Legend 40.5 (PHRF 139). I guess the Legend 40.5 is just a "sea slug". Good luck.
If you can afford it, get a 135% Genoa (to allow for stretch) and avoid the 6 seconds per mile penalty that PHRF imposes on Genoas 140% or over. Of course, PHRF is a joke anyhow. They rated my Legend 37.5 (PHRF 126) at 13 seconds per mile faster than the Legend 40.5 (PHRF 139). I guess the Legend 40.5 is just a "sea slug". Good luck.
Sail weight
Sail weight is an important factor in determining weather or not to keep your genny up as the wind builds. If you have a light wind genny take it down, you'll wreck the sail. If you have a heavy genny try keeping it up and trimed flat. Feather the main as the boat becomes over powered and sheet back in as the wind slacks. Also, try to trim the main as flat as you can. I've never heard of a PHRF penalty for gennies over 140. I think the penalty usually kicks in at 153. Good luck. You'll probably have to experiment this year to determine the best sail combinations for differing wind conditions.
Sail weight is an important factor in determining weather or not to keep your genny up as the wind builds. If you have a light wind genny take it down, you'll wreck the sail. If you have a heavy genny try keeping it up and trimed flat. Feather the main as the boat becomes over powered and sheet back in as the wind slacks. Also, try to trim the main as flat as you can. I've never heard of a PHRF penalty for gennies over 140. I think the penalty usually kicks in at 153. Good luck. You'll probably have to experiment this year to determine the best sail combinations for differing wind conditions.
maximize sail area
John, in your area (NB) you can use up to a 151% genoa without penalty. I'd use as much sail area that you can while keeping the heel angle around 15 to 20 deg. (you get past that and your rudder creates more drag due to weather helm) When you need to, vang down the main and sheet out (flatter while twisting off) move your genny cars aft a bit (flatter down low, twisted off up high) and bleed off some excess power. When it's too much, then think about reducing sail area. Your heel angle (on any boat) will let you know when your over powered. (smaller blown out sails can induce more heel angle than newer sails with the draft where it was designed to be) Have fun, go fast. Mark
John, in your area (NB) you can use up to a 151% genoa without penalty. I'd use as much sail area that you can while keeping the heel angle around 15 to 20 deg. (you get past that and your rudder creates more drag due to weather helm) When you need to, vang down the main and sheet out (flatter while twisting off) move your genny cars aft a bit (flatter down low, twisted off up high) and bleed off some excess power. When it's too much, then think about reducing sail area. Your heel angle (on any boat) will let you know when your over powered. (smaller blown out sails can induce more heel angle than newer sails with the draft where it was designed to be) Have fun, go fast. Mark
Check the prebend
I've been looking at a lot of B&R rigs lately have little or no prebend. Yours should have just less than 5 inches. You can check this by unbending the main and running the main halyard straight down the back side of the mast. I would sudgest a yard with a good rigging reputation for this work as i'ts possible to twist the whole rig if you're not careful. good luck joe P.S, watch out for the "Exorcist"
I've been looking at a lot of B&R rigs lately have little or no prebend. Yours should have just less than 5 inches. You can check this by unbending the main and running the main halyard straight down the back side of the mast. I would sudgest a yard with a good rigging reputation for this work as i'ts possible to twist the whole rig if you're not careful. good luck joe P.S, watch out for the "Exorcist"
PHRF should allow a 155
Unless your fleet has some wacky amendment to Standard PHRF Rules, the headsail LP is allowed to be 1.55 the J dimension. Contact your fleet handicapper if you don't have a copy of the rules. You should, maybe they wouldn't seem like a joke to you if you understood them.
Unless your fleet has some wacky amendment to Standard PHRF Rules, the headsail LP is allowed to be 1.55 the J dimension. Contact your fleet handicapper if you don't have a copy of the rules. You should, maybe they wouldn't seem like a joke to you if you understood them.
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