[Public-list] headsail size

[Gordon Laco]

Hi there - 

When I had Triton make me a new genny, I made it a 140 and now wish it had
been a 150.

By the way, I have to crow a little - even with the small headsail dear old
Surprise took two big firsts last season; the Hog Trophy and the Single
Handed Trophy, both raced in horrible ghosting light air conditions.  Once
we get that iron mine moving, she doesn't stop (unless some *&^*%$ in a
motor boat gives us a wake)  Lighter competitors would accelerate faster
than we could when the tiny puffs came, but as I said above, once we got
sliding through the water we would glide hundreds of yards after they
stopped and lost steerage way.

Re the Hog Trophy... I have been second several times in the past 16 years
but this year - we got the Swine!!  The trophy itself is a big brass pig
with a smug look on its face - I love it.  Caroline keeps moving it out of
the living room...

Gord #426 

PS the really funny thing is that both wins occurred when my regular crew
were NOT aboard.  They have received a lot of teasing about that!







> <snip>
> 
> I do a lot of single handling and coastal cruising in New
>> England with the occasional offshore overnight. When I talk to the people
>> at these used sail places--such as Bacon Sails--I do not know what the
>> proper size of the sail should be for my application. What I would like
>> is
>> one big sail that I could leave on all season even if I sacrifice a little
>> performance in heaver winds. So what size headsail would you recommend?
>> Or
>> what is the luff leech ect. dimensions that you are happy with? I think
>> that the largest sail possible would be nice for light wind that I then
>> could furl if needed.
> 
> An interesting dilemma- as Mike L. says max headsail size
> is dictated in the bylaws, so if light air efficiency is
> what you want, there you go.
> 
> BUT, if you are single handing in New England, offshore,
> at night, then you don't want a 163% headsail permanently
> mounted-at least, I wouldn't. On top of every thing else,
> it's light construction (which it needs to set properly in
> light air) will cause it to blow out or distort
> prematurely in the conditions you anticipate.
> 
> I like Brian's idea-in fact, I just had a 135% full luff,
> raised clew #2 made for Checkmate that I intend to be my
> primary cruising sail. I've only used it once, but so far,
> it works according to plan. It's hank on. The masochist in
> me prefers to play with headsails as conditions warrant.
> 
> When I ran offshore I would take down the #1 and put up
> the #2 at sundown just for prudence.
> 
> MichaelGrosh
> #220
> 
> 
> 
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