Hi all. I'm interested to hear from people who race with a roller furling headsail. I particularly want to hear general advice for effectively sheeting the sail once it is partly furled.My Catalina 27 has a 150% jib which overpowers the boat in anything above adbou 12 knots of wind. Opinion seems to be mixed as to the effectiveness of such a system in maintaining sail shape. Any thoughts?
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Two thoughts
First, if you are overpowered in 12 knots with a 150 on a C-27, something isn't trimmed correctly. A fully crewed (5-6 crew) C-27 should be able to carry the 150 well into the whitecap range. Second, a roller reefed sail will not perform as well as changing down to a smaller sail. The boat should be faster with the 150 up and two reefs in the main that it is with a full main and a roller reefed jib. Once you reach the limit of that combo it's time for the 100% jib and shake a reef out.
First, if you are overpowered in 12 knots with a 150 on a C-27, something isn't trimmed correctly. A fully crewed (5-6 crew) C-27 should be able to carry the 150 well into the whitecap range. Second, a roller reefed sail will not perform as well as changing down to a smaller sail. The boat should be faster with the 150 up and two reefs in the main that it is with a full main and a roller reefed jib. Once you reach the limit of that combo it's time for the 100% jib and shake a reef out.
Aside from the fact that a roller furled headsail has terrible aerodynamics for racing, the problem with a roller furled headsail is you can't change sails without going "headless". I would suggest that if you have a twin grove luff, do not use the upper bearing. Attach the halyard straight to the head of the sail. Then when it becomes necessary to change sails you can do a peel while never going "headless".
Adjust the leads
The headsail may or may not have a good shape when partially reefed, but in either case you need to move the sheet leads forward. The shape and tension on the foot and leach should be kept somewhat equal.
The headsail may or may not have a good shape when partially reefed, but in either case you need to move the sheet leads forward. The shape and tension on the foot and leach should be kept somewhat equal.
Reefing a Furling Jib
The problem with trying to reef a furling headsail is sail shape. Furlers roll more material at the top, and bottom than in the middle. This causes the sail to have too much draft. There are jibs that have a tapered luff to somewhat allieviate this, but they are not perfect. Moody, Alan, and John have given you good advice.
The problem with trying to reef a furling headsail is sail shape. Furlers roll more material at the top, and bottom than in the middle. This causes the sail to have too much draft. There are jibs that have a tapered luff to somewhat allieviate this, but they are not perfect. Moody, Alan, and John have given you good advice.
Sailing...
is, by definition, a combination of compromises. Racing a cruising boat, or vice versa, will never produce the "perfect" result. So the question becomes "what is adequate enough?" A lot depends on a lot of variables. How serious are you about racing (or cruising)? How much time and money do you want to invest? I think that most of us are "satisficers." We race our cruising boats with what we have, or make some changes at the margins to improve performance. The more serious racers among us buy and install all the latest "go fasts" that probably don't work very well when (and if) they cruise. In this specific case, I would not think a 150 furling genoa would be a good racing/cruising compromise unless your predominant winds are very light most of the time. Would think you'd do better with a foam-luffed 135 which would probably produce a better shape and performance when the winds kick up. Finally, it may be that you need to add a number of sails to your inventory and make a decision about which one to fly just before race time. I would bet that flying a full 110 would produce a better result than rolling up your 150 to the equivalent size.
is, by definition, a combination of compromises. Racing a cruising boat, or vice versa, will never produce the "perfect" result. So the question becomes "what is adequate enough?" A lot depends on a lot of variables. How serious are you about racing (or cruising)? How much time and money do you want to invest? I think that most of us are "satisficers." We race our cruising boats with what we have, or make some changes at the margins to improve performance. The more serious racers among us buy and install all the latest "go fasts" that probably don't work very well when (and if) they cruise. In this specific case, I would not think a 150 furling genoa would be a good racing/cruising compromise unless your predominant winds are very light most of the time. Would think you'd do better with a foam-luffed 135 which would probably produce a better shape and performance when the winds kick up. Finally, it may be that you need to add a number of sails to your inventory and make a decision about which one to fly just before race time. I would bet that flying a full 110 would produce a better result than rolling up your 150 to the equivalent size.
On most Catalinas, reef the Main first
Catalinas get most of their drive from the Genoa. As the wind pipes up, the boat willl want to round-up. To eliminate this, first, put a reef in the main. As the wind continues to build, roll your 150% (assuming that you have a foam luff) to about 135% (most roller furling sails keep a decent shape ahat far in), and move the genoa leads in. As the winds continue to build, reef the main a second time. Finally, get off the ocean (or lake), as it is getting seriously windy. You will find that your boat sails flatter and faster by following these guidlines (although is is much easier to roll in a little genoa than it is to reef the main). The drive that causes the boat to round up is teh sail area in back of the mast, so decrease that first, and that is to reef the main before you roll in the Genoa. When you have too much main, you need to apply a bunch of rudder to keep from rounding up, and that slows the boat down. I don't know exactly where this occurs with the C-27,, but in the C-30, the first reef goes in at about 15 - 18 knots, and the 155 gets rolled in at about 20 - 23 knots (depends on how your sails are cut) Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 (2000 C-30 National Champion) Alchemist C-320 #909
Catalinas get most of their drive from the Genoa. As the wind pipes up, the boat willl want to round-up. To eliminate this, first, put a reef in the main. As the wind continues to build, roll your 150% (assuming that you have a foam luff) to about 135% (most roller furling sails keep a decent shape ahat far in), and move the genoa leads in. As the winds continue to build, reef the main a second time. Finally, get off the ocean (or lake), as it is getting seriously windy. You will find that your boat sails flatter and faster by following these guidlines (although is is much easier to roll in a little genoa than it is to reef the main). The drive that causes the boat to round up is teh sail area in back of the mast, so decrease that first, and that is to reef the main before you roll in the Genoa. When you have too much main, you need to apply a bunch of rudder to keep from rounding up, and that slows the boat down. I don't know exactly where this occurs with the C-27,, but in the C-30, the first reef goes in at about 15 - 18 knots, and the 155 gets rolled in at about 20 - 23 knots (depends on how your sails are cut) Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 (2000 C-30 National Champion) Alchemist C-320 #909
Dropping the Traveler
I have owned my 30 for three years now, and I sail with my wife and two young children. Up until this season I have been very timid in sailing in winds over 15MPH. I do sail strictly in the ocean, and have to travel through one of the roughest inlets in the country (Jones Inlet). We are in dire need of dredging, which finally received federal funding. We actually call it "sailing through the white wall of death". I was out on Sunday with winds blowing 15-20KTS. I have the standard main and a 135 furling genoa. I have found that easing off of the main sheet, and dropping the traveler dramatically reduces weather helm. I was about to reef the main, and roll in the Genny, but the traveler did the trick. Does all of this make sense, or should I have tucked in the reef. As I stated, I have been very conservative as to not scare the kids off of sailing.
I have owned my 30 for three years now, and I sail with my wife and two young children. Up until this season I have been very timid in sailing in winds over 15MPH. I do sail strictly in the ocean, and have to travel through one of the roughest inlets in the country (Jones Inlet). We are in dire need of dredging, which finally received federal funding. We actually call it "sailing through the white wall of death". I was out on Sunday with winds blowing 15-20KTS. I have the standard main and a 135 furling genoa. I have found that easing off of the main sheet, and dropping the traveler dramatically reduces weather helm. I was about to reef the main, and roll in the Genny, but the traveler did the trick. Does all of this make sense, or should I have tucked in the reef. As I stated, I have been very conservative as to not scare the kids off of sailing.
compromises
Assuming your racing is not of the hard-core, no-expense-spared variety, you probably cruise your boat as much or more than you race it, so the roller up front makes sense in terms of convenience. There are a lot of folks who have the same set-up, but want to get the most out of their boat as it is, without making big or expensive rig changes. You can de-power by flattening the main, dropping the traveler, twisting off the main, reefing the main, and reefing the genoa, preferably in that order. If you are not racing in a spinnaker class, you will find that as soon as you make the turn downwind, the 150 will be necessary to hang with the competition in anything under 20 kts of wind. Upwind, its shape will be compromised by reefing, but at that point you don't have many other options (assuming you have gone through the above steps) and will just be keeping the boat balanced and controllable as you sail upwind legs. Your competition will be in the same shape, and you will be less interested in ultimate pointing, etc., than in just keeping the boat moving at decent speed and under control. Sometimes, just a couple of rolls in the genoa really settles the boat down. If the wind is gusty, it really helps to be pro-active and sail her up a little just before the gust hits (taking a "bite" to windward, then easing her off to catch the backside of the gust and ride it to increase boatspeed. Most casual racers with less than optimum set-ups tend to carry too much sail for too long - it doesn't gain you any speed upwind, and each round-up hurts your time. If you do roll the genoa in, be sure to move leads forward, as Alchemist said.
Assuming your racing is not of the hard-core, no-expense-spared variety, you probably cruise your boat as much or more than you race it, so the roller up front makes sense in terms of convenience. There are a lot of folks who have the same set-up, but want to get the most out of their boat as it is, without making big or expensive rig changes. You can de-power by flattening the main, dropping the traveler, twisting off the main, reefing the main, and reefing the genoa, preferably in that order. If you are not racing in a spinnaker class, you will find that as soon as you make the turn downwind, the 150 will be necessary to hang with the competition in anything under 20 kts of wind. Upwind, its shape will be compromised by reefing, but at that point you don't have many other options (assuming you have gone through the above steps) and will just be keeping the boat balanced and controllable as you sail upwind legs. Your competition will be in the same shape, and you will be less interested in ultimate pointing, etc., than in just keeping the boat moving at decent speed and under control. Sometimes, just a couple of rolls in the genoa really settles the boat down. If the wind is gusty, it really helps to be pro-active and sail her up a little just before the gust hits (taking a "bite" to windward, then easing her off to catch the backside of the gust and ride it to increase boatspeed. Most casual racers with less than optimum set-ups tend to carry too much sail for too long - it doesn't gain you any speed upwind, and each round-up hurts your time. If you do roll the genoa in, be sure to move leads forward, as Alchemist said.
Many thanks
Many thanks for your advice! My racing is done these days in twilights only. The Catalina was purchased as the family cruiser that dad could still race on Friday nights. Hence the boat is set up accordingly - furler, dodger etc. The advice offered will be put to the test in the near future. I'll let you all know how we go. Cheers from Tasmania. Markras
Many thanks for your advice! My racing is done these days in twilights only. The Catalina was purchased as the family cruiser that dad could still race on Friday nights. Hence the boat is set up accordingly - furler, dodger etc. The advice offered will be put to the test in the near future. I'll let you all know how we go. Cheers from Tasmania. Markras
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