[Rhodes22-list] A question of size and shape (sails ye salty dogs sails)

[John Shulick]

Lee,

 This is a pic. of the backstay adjuster on my boat
http://old.nabble.com/file/p27115052/DSCF0299.jpg 
Tension on the line applies a transverse tension on the back stays drawing
them together which essentially shortens their length. The harder you pull
the more you tighten the forestay. Consider a similar device on the forward
baby stays, tension on that line should apply a slight bend to the center of
the mast flattening the main or so the theory goes. I have a standard main
which will is bendable (confirmed by experiment last summer) The question is
how much initial rake do I want when the boat is at rest and how much bend
is needed to effectively flatten the main?

Thanks 
John S  

Leland wrote:
> 
> Ron/John (sounds like a surf shop),
> 
> In my mind I think I would be just fine with a 150 or even a 135.  On a
> close reach in placid water I can usually fill the 175 with about 3.5
> knots of wind.  In 3.5 to 5.0 knots of wind the big Genoa works well.  The
> sail is fun and looks pretty in 5 to 7 knots without excessive heel but I
> can go faster if I reef it a little.  Much of the time I've got the 175
> reefed to a 150 or 135 or less.
> 
> However every time I sail with the 175 when it's the right conditions I
> swear I'll buy another one when the time comes to replace it.  I may not
> use the full 175 often, but when I can use it I want to use it.  I
> wouldn't want to give up my traveler, adjustable sheet tracks/leads,
> centerboard, or reefable main; and I often don't use them either.  That
> 175 can provide a lot of power for our light boats and can be very useful
> with a whisker pole on a broad reach or run.
> 
> I agree that a smaller sail won't need to be reefed as often and will have
> better shape when reefed.  If most of your sailing is in winds of 8 knots
> or more it probably makes sense to go with a smaller Genoa.  A lot of my
> sailing is in winds of less than 8 knots.
> 
> With the sheets ran outside the shrouds on a close reach with the board
> down and the boom up, in most conditions I think I would generally want to
> reef a 150 before hitting 9 knots of wind.  
> 
> I've never played with mast rake.  I've seen a lot of performance-oriented
> boats with single adjustable backstays that allow you to change the rake
> for upwind or downwind sailing.  How would an adjustable baby stay be
> installed on our boats?  If you devised something to pull down on the
> lines connecting the two backstays would it have any effect?
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> Lee
> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
> Kent Island, MD
> 
> 
> Ronald Lipton-3 wrote:
>> 
>> Hi John,
>> 
>>    I switched from a 175 to a 150 I purchased from Stand last year.
>> I also switched from the GBI Furler to the CDI.  The GBI furler performed
>> well, but I wanted the option to lower or change the foresail, and the
>> CDI furler allows that. 
>> 
>>   I am very happy with the 150.  I do not need to furl as early and it 
>> seems
>> to be well suited to conditions on Lake Michigan more often than the
>> 175.  It also retains it's shape a bit better when partially furled.  In 
>> light
>> breezes, when you might want more sail area the 175 does not perform
>> well due to the heavy cloth.   I think the 150 is a bit more suited than 
>> the
>> 175.  I would thing the 135 would be a bit too small.
>> 
>> Ron
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> John Shulick wrote:
>>>  Hello to the forum,
>>>
>>>   After extensive negotiations (groveling, begging, etc...) with the
>>> Admiral
>>> I have been authorized (allowed) to replace my blown out 35+yrs old 175
>>> genoa and GB furler with new equipment. Over the last 2 yrs. sailing at
>>> Kinzua has shown me the 175 is really not suited for the conditions I
>>> have,
>>> namely wind gusts that can double in velocity usually accompanied by 90*
>>> or
>>> more shifts in direction. I never fully unfurl the genoa unless the wind
>>> is
>>> so light that the sail can't or won't (not sure which) fill properly. My
>>> research into the archives show the older rhodes came with 150 genoas
>>> and my
>>> 71 certainly falls in that group. My question to the forum is at what
>>> approximate wind speed would you begin reefing in a 150 genoa and would
>>> a
>>> 135 or less be even better for the conditions I'm facing. Also I'm
>>> looking
>>> for a furler and would appreciate any info on which ones offer more sail
>>> tuning options. A final item of thought, has anyone out there in rhodes
>>> land
>>> experimented with mast rake and/or mast bending by use of baby stay
>>> tension
>>> to alter mainsail shape and performance.
>>>
>>> All comments are appreciated
>>> Thanks in advance
>>> John Shulick
>>>
>>>   
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 

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