[Public-List] [Public-list] Bilge (main sail shape)

Tue Feb 24 10:43:04 PST 2009

Well I am pleased to stand corrected... Particularly since my last and
persistant complaint about SURPRISE's performance is that I can't get her to
point.

Gord

On 2/24/09 1:32 PM, "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Hi Gord,
> 
> I would respectfully disagree about roach, get as much as you can without
> hitting the backs stay (too hard; )
> 
> Counter the weather helm issue by having the main built fairly flat with
> minimal shelf
> 
> I think if I remember correctly I only have about 2 1/2 - 3 inches shelf
> compared to the average new style main built with 5-7 inches of shelf
> 
> As a result Sunstone points like the dickens and the helm is less Weatherly.
> When I need to depower the helm I drop the traveler and flatten the main
> further with the out hall
> 
> We won a lot of races against fin keelers pointing virtually as well as
> they.
> 
> Sunstone walks and rocks to weather and it is a great sail
> 
> Also, we have as much main foot as legal.
> 
> Roach is good, shelf is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.
> 
> Respectfully yours
> 
> JB
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] [Public-list] Bilge
> 
> 
>> Hi Pete -
>> 
>> I have a little bit of a predjudice against the big franchise lofts unless
>> a
>> particular operation has people in it who have sympathy for heavy
>> traditional boats and have insights into what they need.
>> 
>> I heard about an A30 main where the sailmaker, who did not have sympathy
>> or
>> respect for older designs, assumed that the only way to go was to boost
>> area
>> and talked the fellow into a main with a big roach.
>> 
>> Well of course the A30 is sensitive to increase in power aft of the mast -
>> it wrecks the steering and increases heeling to no good effect.  What the
>> poor guy ended up with was a bigger more powerful new main that retained
>> for
>> him all the handling problems of the old blown out one. (but it was new
>> and
>> crispy)
>> 
>> I would recommend Joe Fernades son Ron, who carries on the family business
>> since we lost Joe in '02.  If you write to me off list I can give you his
>> contact co-ordinates.
>> 
>> Cheers - Gord #426
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2/24/09 1:16 PM, "Pete Staehling" <pete.staehling at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> I am in Parkville (north side of Baltimore).   It would be nice to have a
>>> nice new sail.  I think the old now dead one was original, so it was very
>>> bagged out.   The previous owner described it as "nice and soft" :)
>>> 
>>> I don't know enough about any of the sail makers to have a preference.
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 1:16 PM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi Pete -
>>>> 
>>>> I understand your desire to try to find a sail quickly...but with regard
>>>> to
>>>> racing vs cruising I can say that cruisers really have a better reason
>>>> to
>>>> have good mains than racers.
>>>> 
>>>> A nice shape in your main will knock a significant number of degrees off
>>>> your angle of heel in every wind speed. The boat will be much easier to
>>>> steer and the cumulative effect will be the same as if you changed your
>>>> ballast from iron to lead.  But of course with no actual increase in
>>>> weight!!!  oh - I forgot to say - you will sail faster in most wind
>>>> speeds
>>>> but the stuff I described above is more important to comfort and safety.
>>>> 
>>>> I suspect this year sailmakers can be found with space in their
>>>> production
>>>> schedules.  Making an A30 main from scratch does not take more than a
>>>> few
>>>> days; and is really worth every penny.  I have a sailmaker I am loyal to
>>>> (who made our boat's sails when the class was in production) but you may
>>>> have your favourite.
>>>> 
>>>> Where do you live?
>>>> 
>>>> Gord #426 SURPRISE
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On 2/24/09 1:00 PM, "Pete Staehling" <staehpj1 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> I have been away from the list for a couple years.  I am the owner of
>>>> #554
>>>>> "Aurora".
>>>>> 
>>>>> It seems that I need a new mainsail.  I am open to suggestions, but I
>>>> don't
>>>>> want to wait too long to get one, so having one made somewhere with a
>>>> long
>>>>> turnaround time may not be my first choice.  As a casual cruiser I
>>>>> don't
>>>>> need a real high performance sail and may be happy with buying someones
>>>> used
>>>>> cast off.  Aurora currently has roller reefing, but I would prefer to
>>>>> go
>>>> to
>>>>> slab reefing.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Does anyone know of a used sail for sale that might suit me?
>>>>> 
>>>>> If I opt for a new sail where would you recommend I go, what kind of
>>>> price
>>>>> and turn around time can I expect?
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> 
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>> 
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> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Please support them.
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