[Rhodes22-list] Genoa size - 130 or 150

[Chris Cowie]

Rob:

I have had two seasons with a new 2009 R22 175 on the Chesapeake Bay.  I sail solo most of the time and enjoy getting out in all conditions.  I have previously posted that the boat runs great on a reach and the 175 really moves the boat along at about 60 degrees off the wind.  Trying to sail any closer than 60 degrees slows me down a LOT.  I have tried moving the jib sheets to the cabin top and side positions, furling the sail accordingly and don't seem to be able to point much higher and lose a lot of speed.  I would be interested to know if a smaller genoa improves pointing and speed but would be worried about the loss of all the power I get from the 175.  I suppose a smaller sail not furled has a different shape than a furled sail.  The furled sail in addition to the leading edge being rolled does not extend all the way down to the deck as it is furled.  Not sure how much this impacts performance.  If a smaller sail is about the same as my 175 furled then there is no question I would stay with the 175.

Christopher P. Cowie    


4400 MacArthur Blvd, NW 
Suite 300 
Washington, DC  20007 
202.342.2711 
202.342.2691 fax 
202.270.1470 mobile 

[ccowie at cowieassociates.com]
cowieassociates.com


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Robert Baldi
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 10:03 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Cc: Jay Friedland; stan at rhodes22.com
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Genoa size - 130 or 150

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
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