[Rhodes22-list] Genoa size - 130 or 150

[David Culp]

Rob:

Exact same dilemma that I faced last year.  How to maximize performance
upwind when sailing short-handed and yet take full advantage of the good
reaching characteristics of the boat.

Sailing alone, upwind in most wind conditions, I do better with my new 130
(12' foot).   I sense it and the knot meter confirms it.   Not over-powered
and much better entry even if I furl to 100% vs. the old 175.  If I had more
ballast obviously a bigger sail would be advantageous.  To make up for the
loss of the 175 sail area off the wind, I purchased a UPS sail for reaching
and light air work.  Not quite as big, but It has done its job perfectly
over the last summer.

No one can say for sure what is best for the boat when it comes to sails
because every situation is different.  So back to the basics of what we all
can agree on and that is... that the boat does best when it's fairly flat on
a beat and it loves a reach.  How each sailor goes about getting themselves
into that position and maximizing it most of the time depends on their
locale, ballast available and their own personal skills.

I sort of kept a log over a full season noting the winds, the points of sail
and the sail configuration I was using.  The results showed that even though
there are few things "funner" with your clothes on then running downwind
with that big old genoa poled out... I was doing it less then 10% of the
time.  Most of the time, I was on a beat with my 175 nearly halfway rolled
up in the conditions that I was likely to encounter.  Big hit on pointing
and where I sail, pointing is important.  I also have the old GBI furler
which I like just fine and didn't need to change it.  So I chose the 130 as
the best overall permanent foresail for my situation and supplemented it
with the UPS which is a very easy add on.  At about 150-155 %, it is not as
big as the old deck sweeper, but in light air it performs quite a bit better
overall then the heavier sail, is a cinch to tack and in higher winds, it
sort of plays and looks like a spinnaker.  So it's practical, looks good and
is still fun.

Again, had I logged more time off the wind or had more crew, then the 130
might not be the best choice and something bigger probably would be
indicated.

Hope this helps,
David




Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 22:03:26 -0500
From: Robert Baldi <rob.o.baldi at gmail.com>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Genoa size - 130 or 150
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Cc: Jay Friedland <a.jayf1 at verizon.net>, stan at rhodes22.com
Message-ID:
       <AANLkTikLKjFqyYxMsj-5pzWiwakFqA282ePqbmT_gHx1 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello
My name is Robert Baldi - I have owned my Rhodes for more than 10 years. Jay
Friedland and I sail off of Long Beach Island N.J. We each have our own
boats. I used to be on the list using my email address name of Moses2u, and
I know some of you from my days when I was regularly on the list - years
ago.

Here is my question: I plan to buy a new set of sails. I currently have what
I think is a 150 genoa. I am not a timid sailor, but I am looking for
performance and therefore I am considering buying a smaller Genoa. I do
a great deal of solo sailing. Most often the wind is more than10-12 knots
and frequently 14+. I  regularly reef my genoa to some extent- probably more
than half the time I go out solo.

My first premise ( I am looking for guidance on this) is that a sail is at
maximum performance full out and not reefed. Therefore I will obtain maximum
performance most of the time with a smaller Genoa.

I will miss the larger Genoa some of the time, --- but will the better
performance for most of the time (more than 50%) compensate my feeling of
disappointment on those days when I could have used a larger sail -  On
those days (wind from 7 to 10 knots) when I would have sailed the 150 at
100%.

My furling system is the old General Boats basic design where the sail is
screwed to the tube. I do not intend to buy a new system and two sets of
sails - but if there are people who regularly change their sail -I will
listen to their advice as well. It is my belief that most of us like the
simplicity of one set of sails and the ease of jumping on our boat and
heading out for a sail without hanking on the sails.

I have an innermast main - I assume I want the main sail with a Batten.

Please - talk to me - do you like your sail size? What should I buy? -
Should I try a 130 genoa? By the way - I do not regularly race but like all
of us -when another boat sails close I don't want to be behind - so speed is
an issue. - I wonder if the efficiency of a smaller unreefed sail will
improve speed.

rob

rob
--
Robert O. Baldi