[C320-list] downwind cruising sail ?

[Allan S. Field]

Irv - You might want to try gybing the A-Sym versus tacking.  The procedure
is to pull the main to the center-line.  Start the gybe slowly and begin to
let the working sheet of the A-Sym out.  Before the stern comes through the
wind, let the working sheet fly so that the sail gets completely out in
front of the boat.  Once the sail is in front of the boat, complete the gybe
and sheet in the new working sheet as you do so.  This technique takes some
practice and some inevitable wraps around the forestay but it does work.  

The biggest problem I have had with this technique is that on one occasion
while single-handed, the working sheet, when I let it fly, drifted under the
boat and became jammed between the hull and top of the rudder.  When I let
the sail fly now, I keep a hand on the working sheet to prevent it from
going under the boat.  I also have not tried single-handing the sail since
that event as I can't keep a hand on the sheet, gybe the boat, plus pull in
the new sheet without a third hand!  There has to be a way to do this but I
haven't quite figured it out yet...

Hope this helps.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Irving Grunes
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:01 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] downwind cruising sail ?

James,
I don't know thew foot or leech length.  We bought it used from another c320
owner who bought it from another owner.
It was too big for him to fly and since he only wanted to cruise, didn't
want it.
Ours was specifically made for a C320 and it came with a dousing sock and a
single lead. The process to tack is to douse the sail, pull it around the
forestay, bring the lead back to the stern and raise the sock.

Our 41 ft luff is a little difficult to to pull around the forestay because
of its length. A foot or two shorter would be a little easier to handle when
raising and when lowering to stow in its bag.
It works great at up to 10 knots for us between 120 and 150 degrees
It won't go directly down wind.
We bought it for when the Chesapeake drops to 5 or 6 knots, where our 135
genny just won't fly.
Irv Grunes
2001 C320 #851

On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM, Jamie Pett <JPett at jp2architects.com>wrote:

> Thanks to all, very helpful.  Irving, just to 'pick your brain' a bit
> more- do you know the foot on your sail ? I have read it should be about
> 1.8 x 'J' which would be about 22' ? Also, is it 1.5 oz. material, or
> lighter ? Thanks. - James
>
> James Pett
> Bella Luna #614
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Irving
> Grunes
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:15 PM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] downwind cruising sail ?
>
> We have a 41 ft luff Asym
>
> Wished it was 39', just to make it easier to handle on the foredeck
> I Grunes
> 2001 C320 #851
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 3:16 PM, Jamie Pett <JPett at jp2architects.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi.  I have a '99 C-320. 1st season - love her.  I am however
> interested
> > in getting a used asymmetrical spinnaker as I have a roller main and
> 135
> > jib and off wind performance could be better, especially in light air.
> > Any input by others who have done so is appreciated.   In particular,
> > does anyone know the 'I' and 'J' measurements for her ?  I can find
> the
> > MKII numbers at Catalina, but not sure if they changed as I understood
> > the hull changed a few inches here and there. Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > James Pett
> >
> > 'Bella Luna' #614
> >
> >
>