sails & pointing

[John]

Some time ago I complained on this forum about my C 36's inability to point very well. I went out with a more experienced sailor who pointed out to me the big belly in the (roller furled) head sail. He thought it was just cut that way and that it could be re-cut.

I took it in to a sailmaker and asked him about it. The sailmaker felt that it was actually due to the rope sewed on the luff (a triple rope, actually) and he removed it. Today I tried it out for the first time and I was able to get the sail much flatter when sheeted in and it also seemed to me that the boat pointed 5-10 degrees higher although the wind was so light that I couldn't tell for sure. It also rolls up much neater.

Anyway, I thought some might be interested in this.

 

[shemandr]

That's good news - boats that can point are more fun. Why do you think the rope was sewn in the luff in the first place? I have an idea but would like to see what other forum members have to say.

 

[Calif. Ted]

I believe the rope was in place of foam fomerly used to maintain shape when partially furled. The halyard tension can also play an important role in headsail shape.

 

[David10790]

Rolling Furling Head Sails are a Compromise

Ted is correct. The purpose of the rope is to keep the sail shape as it is partially furled. It is a compromise, and a rolled furling head sail will never be as effective as changing up and down between sizes. If you racing and have a big crew, you can do this. If you are cruising, you will give up some pointing ability, but you can reduce sail without going forward. Its a tradeoff most non-competitive sailors are happy to make.

 

[John]

This was actually a triple rope sewed on. According to the sailmaker, the sail had stretched a little, but the rope prevented this along the luff, and this was what was causing the big belly in the sail. In turn, this big belly caused a shape in the sail which in effect meant that I couldn't sheet the sail in tight; when sheeted in all the way, the belly still made the angle of the sail not right for pointing. I don't know if I'm explaining this right, but that's what I think was happening. So in this case the rope actually made the sail shape worse, not better.