What's the best way? If you have to go foward to help the sail where and how do you grab it to get it around?
Tacking a genoa around an inner forestay
- Thread starter Broke sailor SV Marcell
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it's a PITA...
...but it's there for a purpose, so you just have to work around it. We raced a Peterson 34 and it had a removable inner forestay, which wasn't used (thank god) in light wind conditions. Detaching it cleaned up tacks w/ the genoa and really, really helped with spinaker sets, 'cause the stay just added complexities to the visual mess. That said, the inner stay helps stabilize and prevented mast-pumping in moderate to heavy air and in both those conditions the headsail, particularly the clew, would still scrape/drag by the inner stay w/o hanging up. A word of caution: thankfully I wasn't on board to witness the event, but an almost new borrowed mylar #1 split during a trial run for fit & shape with a startling 'boom!' as a result of a little, itty-bitty wirebarb on the inner stay that just barely scored the sail's surface. Plenty of weakness imparted to make it part when put under load. And yes, "check for stains" was appropriate as the crew doused 2 sails.
...but it's there for a purpose, so you just have to work around it. We raced a Peterson 34 and it had a removable inner forestay, which wasn't used (thank god) in light wind conditions. Detaching it cleaned up tacks w/ the genoa and really, really helped with spinaker sets, 'cause the stay just added complexities to the visual mess. That said, the inner stay helps stabilize and prevented mast-pumping in moderate to heavy air and in both those conditions the headsail, particularly the clew, would still scrape/drag by the inner stay w/o hanging up. A word of caution: thankfully I wasn't on board to witness the event, but an almost new borrowed mylar #1 split during a trial run for fit & shape with a startling 'boom!' as a result of a little, itty-bitty wirebarb on the inner stay that just barely scored the sail's surface. Plenty of weakness imparted to make it part when put under load. And yes, "check for stains" was appropriate as the crew doused 2 sails.
Same old way, backwind it.
I see this question from time to time. I have been sailing a cutter for ten years and really do not have the problem. Occasionally in really light air it might hang up I suppose. Maybe if I was racing it would concern me that I cannot do a fast tack. But mostly I just backwind the jib(yankee) and it snaps right through. And that is with two big bowlines on the clew. One thing I really try to avoid in any air is a jibe. Maybe your issue is different. I have about four feet between the forestay and the mid-stay.
I see this question from time to time. I have been sailing a cutter for ten years and really do not have the problem. Occasionally in really light air it might hang up I suppose. Maybe if I was racing it would concern me that I cannot do a fast tack. But mostly I just backwind the jib(yankee) and it snaps right through. And that is with two big bowlines on the clew. One thing I really try to avoid in any air is a jibe. Maybe your issue is different. I have about four feet between the forestay and the mid-stay.
Mine is detacheable with a two foot gap.
It makes it tough with the 150 up so we stow the solent stay in light air.
It makes it tough with the 150 up so we stow the solent stay in light air.
Just detach the inner forestay when not in use and
attach to the mast. If your Genoa is on a furler you may roll it in and let it out on the the other tack.
attach to the mast. If your Genoa is on a furler you may roll it in and let it out on the the other tack.
Duh!
Not my boat. I was crewing on a Swan 44 and was looking for a way to easily tack across without modifying someone elses boat.
Not my boat. I was crewing on a Swan 44 and was looking for a way to easily tack across without modifying someone elses boat.
A big genoa will not blow through and will cause you to heave to.
The most normal way I am exposed to is to have a crew member sit on the foredeck (a little bit on the leeward side and pull the forward part of the foot forward and over his head to gather the sail enough to blow through. The tricing lines (I'm not familiar with that term) mentioned by RichH are a good Idea but I would prefer them attached to a reinforced patch on the sail about 1/3 fro the luff to gather only the fwd part of the sail rather than on the leach which, unless they are threaded through the whole sail, will bag it and slow you down in the tack. Both ways are totally acceptable however if the sail is modified to thread the tricing line through the whole sail. I have never used one but a tricing lint threaded through a sail might be a worthwhile expenditure. Have fun Joe S
The most normal way I am exposed to is to have a crew member sit on the foredeck (a little bit on the leeward side and pull the forward part of the foot forward and over his head to gather the sail enough to blow through. The tricing lines (I'm not familiar with that term) mentioned by RichH are a good Idea but I would prefer them attached to a reinforced patch on the sail about 1/3 fro the luff to gather only the fwd part of the sail rather than on the leach which, unless they are threaded through the whole sail, will bag it and slow you down in the tack. Both ways are totally acceptable however if the sail is modified to thread the tricing line through the whole sail. I have never used one but a tricing lint threaded through a sail might be a worthwhile expenditure. Have fun Joe S
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