[C320-list] Genoa Replacement

[David MacKinnon]

It is time to look at replacing our old 150% genoa and we are looking at our options. The 150% genoa is to be replaced with a smaller genoa somewhere, we believe, between a 120-135%.

Most of our sailing is a mixture of weekend cruising and weekend racing in wind speeds up to 25Kts (or over if the forecast is incorrect), with an average of 15Kts, and I would like to get a new genoa that gives us good racing performance but also reasonable cruising performance.  Our sailmaker has provided options of high quality dacron or laminate sails and whilst I would like to go to the laminate, the cost is most likely going to be the factor.

I am tending to a 135% dacron, as it seems to be the most common and also the best sail plan for a variety of conditions,  but what is the experience of the members of the association in terms of size for these type of conditions? Would we notice any real difference in going to a 125% dacron sailplan? Also, would a smaller laminate sail be better than, say, a 135% dacron genoa. I realise that the dacron sail most likely has better longevity than the laminate but that is not the main consideration at this point in time.

Thanks for your valued inputs.


David MacKinnon
Figment #162
Brisbane, Australia