Slot closed at the top

[Jose Venegas]

How do you know if the slot between the genoa and the main is too closed at the top?I just bought a new 150% for my Beneteau 361. With the car as far as it can go, I note that as I sheet the genoa, the slot closes at the top way before the sail reaches the close hauled configuration in the bottom. By that I mean that the top of the slot is already closed while it is still quite large in the middle of the sail. By the time the slot looks good in the middle, the sail is inside the top spreader and hitting it and the top stays.

 

[Joe Barrett]

Have Sailmaker look at the sail

As you move the Genoa lead aft the leach should be open, not touching the spreader. As the lead moves forward the leach should touch the spreader earlier. If you are touching the spreader with the lead all the way aft either the track is too short or the sail is not cut right. Have a ailmaker look at it.

 

[Joe Barrett]

Car position

I reread your post, are you saying the Genoa track lead is as far aft as it can go? That is the only way to open the leach, move the lead aft in heavier air to open the slot. It sounds like the lead is too far forward. With the lead forward the leach will hit the spreader as the leach is closed. This is a more powerful shape for lighter air.

 

[Jose Venegas]

Yes the car is all the way back

Tank you for the prompt answers. I had the sail maker on the boat last week and he recommended the opposite !!!, to move the car forward. According to him the sail is OK but it does not look OK to me. I will try moving the lead aft using a block and see if that opens the slot on top. As it is, the sail begins to hit the top spreader and the side stay above it while the slot the middle is still too open but the bottom of the sail is flat and hitting the side stay.Do you know of a site with pictures illustrating the shape of the slot ?.Next time I go sailing, I will bring my camera with me and post a picture of the slot.Thanks again

 

[ted]

Jose, Same thing happend to me..

I bought a new 155 but my jib track was not long enough to get the proper sheeting angle. The top is closing because jib sheet is pulling more on the leech than the foot. You will find this out when you put the extra block farther back as mentioned in your other post. If this is the case then you have two options: add more jib track or take the sail back. I could not add more jib track so I had to take the sail back. The sailmaker sold the sail to somebody else then built me 133 that fits my boat. A word of caution to all:Sail makers ignore 70% of all those measurements they ask you to take, especially the ones specific to your jib track. If you ask for a big 150 then they will build you one, regardless if it will fit your boat or not.Ted