Racing with in mast furling

[Syversens]

Hi All, I'v been playing with the thought of racing my 361... it would be in the free for all class and without spinnaker (as I understand the rules here). does anyone else race a similar boat with furling main ? I'm worried about performance and wondering if its just going to be a slow sail where competition takes off, then I can just go cruising anyways )I like racing as I have crewed on a boat and it makes you a bit more on the edge and opens up to take new crew onboard for more sailing thru the winter. Also does anyone know what rating my boat would get ? its a 361 99...Any opinions appreciatedGaute

 

[larry w]

IN MAST FURL

A mast-furled main is slow since the main has almost no real shape, but your rating will take that into account. If you don't want to fly a spinny, get good at setting a whisker pole to pole out the genoa. Not sure of your rating, but my OC400 w/in-mast furling rates 111. Check with your local PHRF fleet.

 

[Dragonfly6689]

We race with Dragonfly - B331

We were the fastest boat on the lake the first year -- new sails and clean bottom. Of course, it's a small fleet. A couple of Tartan's - 37 and 3500; C&C 30; O'day 322 and 31; several Hunters in the 27-30 ft; and a few catalina 25-30.We feel the loose footed main helps compensate for the smaller sail area. We reach hull speed at 12-15 knots true wind, so don't think we would do much better with a classic main.We are not as competetive now as the bottom needs new paint. Oh well, we race for fun, not for silver. Mark

 

[Syversens]

whisker pole

Hi Larry, my boat has a wire babystay that will make a whisker pole difficult... I dont know if I can put a latch on the bottom of the babystay so I can disconnect it during maneuvers or not, anyone know ?I wouldnt mind being able to disconnect the baby stay since we keep our inflatable up there and the cover for the boat wraps around it making it a tight fit.My only issue is getting the genneker wet... Its really easy to put up and I love sailing with it but never done it while raining, anyone got a good drying tip ?RegardsGaute

 

[larry w]

babystay

I think you could still fly a gennaker with a babystay, but jibing it would be a little tricky, but why does your rig have a babystay in the first place? I'd think the mast on a 36 would be plenty strong enough not to need a babystay. To dry your gennaker, just hoist it up at the dock and sheet it loosely. It's nylon so will dry very fast.

 

[Syversens]

good question

I'm not sure why it has a babystay, its all wire and always slack... atleast slack enough for me to move it around, I have tested it while sailing and its never been stretched that I know of... I'd like to get a clip on the bottom so I can hook the wire on the mast somewhere when stored, my dingy would rest better too. I'll take a closer look....anyone have recommendation on size of the whisker pole ? my jib is standard 140 (I think) on the 361.

 

[Mike B]

Baby stay

Gaute check with your local Benny dealer but I believe the baby stay both helps set some rake to the mast as well as prevent it from pumping. My dealer set my 361 up with modest mast rake. The baby stay is firm, never any slack in it.Mike

 

[b393capt]

Babystay

The babystay on my Beneteau 393 is loose as well. When I went around trying to find tuning information for the rig, I have been told almost unanimously that the babystay is there to prevent the mast from inverting (which causes instant failure), strictly a vital safety function and has no function in tuning the rig.

 

[Syversens]

sailing in higher winds with jib only

Hi All, thanks for all advice, signed up to start racing this fall perhaps... I will post here for questions about racing tips. I found that when running the jib alone and no main (it was blowing hard and decided to go that way) the babystay was pretty stiff. I think this also would change based on temperature and such but it seems more like a safety than a function. I won't try to make it removable since instant failure sounds rather ominous.thanks all !