[C320-list] Genoa Replacement

[Guy Smith]

Hey David,
In the Chesapeake Bay, we usually need more sail, since we get winds primarily around 10 knots.However, there are days with 15-20 kts and above. Since we may travel for several days at a time up or down the bay, you never know if you'll need the full 150 deployed or not to get home. The original 150 Genny was still in good condition but did not reef well at all, getting more dangerous as shortened sail. It got quite baggy up high and was very susceptible to death flogging. 
I replaced the original last season with a 148 Genoa that has a foam luff to keep the shape as it's furled, made by Chesapeake Sails. I specifically told Chuck (the sail maker) that I wanted something that roller reefed really well. It took a month of sailing in the bay before we had 20+ kts to see how it would perform reefed at 90%. I love it! The shape is very efficient and safe. 
And on those 5-10 kts days, I love the full 148...
Consider a larger Genny with a foam luff.
Fair winds!~g
Guy Smithsv Pleiades C320 #452Worton Creek MD
"Raise your sail one foot and you get ten feet of wind."-Chinese Proverb

      From: Marek Fluder <marekf at gmail.com>
 To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at catalina320.com> 
 Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 10:28 AM
 Subject: Re: [C320-list] Genoa Replacement
   
David,

My situation may not apply to you, but it is similar to Graeme's and might
add some value.
I do not race and mostly day-sail with a crew of 1 or 2, but practically
single-hand.
After 2 seasons with original 150% I decided to get a 110% as I do not like
struggling when wind starts gusting over 20.
Upwind rolled-in shape on my 150 just sucks.
Experience from my previous boat tells me to go for 110 - that was the most
used sail for me in my neighbourhood. (from 150, 135 and 110 available)
I intend also to get high clew as twisting my neck to see under the sail
gets old quickly....
My choice due to price and longevity is dacron, I have no experience with
laminates.

Kind regards,
Marek
#1028
Lake Ontario


On Tue, Feb 23, 2016 at 3:48 AM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:

> David
>
> It gets a bit windy over here in the UK too and I have been told that the
> standard size genoa supplied with the 320 is really a ‘light wind’ sail.
> When it comes to replacement I will be looking at 125% or smaller. I’m not
> a racer, but we spend so much of the time at sea with a large part of it
> rolled away and the remainder in a poor shape leading to poor pointing and
> speed.
>
> I guess part of your choice needs to be based upon whether you possess
> (and have the skill and crew to fly) some form of chute or spinnaker?
>
> Graeme
> #366, Jaskar, England
> On 23 Feb 2016, at 08:17, David MacKinnon <david.mackinnon99 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> ———————————————————
> I work irregular hours and often write emails late in the evening and at
> weekends; that doesn’t mean I expect you to do the same; reply when
> convenient!
>
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