foresail

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  • 28th August 2006 at 1:10 pm #10915

      Our HT 27 has a genoa that reaches far more aft then the mainstays. The rails for the sheets (ropes) are on the aft cabins and thus far (2 meters)from the centreline of the boat. Result is tha when the sail is pulled fully aft and as flat as possible still the genoa is about two meters from the middle line.
      I was wondering if the windwardness of the boat could be improved by a smaller foresail (lets say just over the cabinhatch) and two rails on the cabinroof. (about a meter each from the centreline of the boat)
      We do have a smaller foresail on the inner forestay allready.
      Has anyone thought of this before?
      Our HT 27 sails about 45 degrees to the wind but at a dramatic loss of speed.
      Juup

      31st August 2006 at 5:38 pm #11274

        Juup
        Same problem here, I just bought a HT27 and took it out for the first time for a two day sail up the Californian coast, which is straight into the wind almost always. The windward performance was disappointing, we were passed up by many mono's, some smaller than her. The Genoa on the boat is way old (blown out) I think it may even be the original sail, so that is definitely part of the problem but I suspect not the whole problem. In-between the 100 or so tacks, I was also musing the idea, of using a Jib and bringing the rails more to center as you mentioned…
        When we turned back down the coast she performed, covering 4 times more sea than on the way up, 7kts without a groan, in a manageable wind, so there is nothing wrong with her downwind ability.
        If anyone has experience with a jib or ideas on improving windward performance they would definitely be appreciated!

        6th September 2006 at 8:56 am #11275

          Hi there. There is a problem with getting the best windward performance, and on the Ocean Twins 38 we barberhaul ours to get the best effect. However our Genoa reaches only as far back as the mast. With the Genoa finishing here, you can attach a rope to the working sheet, close to the clew and pull across the boat to the opposite side. (if the sail is to port, take the new rope to a winch on the stbd side and winch in until you get the performance you require.

          If using a staysail you will need to try to mirror the same shape, by getting the two sails as near to parallel as you can, to optimise the acceleration of wind in the slot between.

          I can see that if your Genoas are too big, and finish too far back that stays and sprayhoods could get in the way. It might be worth considering getting a smaller up wind Genoa, and keeping the big one for downwind or reaching. If I can help further with this let me know. Good luck. Chrissie

          6th October 2006 at 3:23 pm #11276

            Hi Guys,

            Some time ago I discussed a self tacking Jib with Mark Jarvis. He sketched me a diagram which another memeber had used sucessfuly using two block attached (I think) to the grab rails on the coachroof. Unfortunately I have lost my sketch but I am sure Mark would be happy to post another on the forum. As my boat, a mark I HT has been ashore for about 12 years or more and when I purchased her had the mast lowered, I am curently re-rigging her. Apparently she did not originally have Backstays or Cap Shrouds and relied on Forestay, Inner Forestay and Aft Lower Stays to keep the mast up. This did not seem to be sufficient to both the present owner and myself and I am currently re-rigging her with Forestay, Inner Forestay, Cap Shrouds, aft lowers and Backstays. I have also upgraded the wire from 5mm to 6mm. Have had all the rigging made up but could only terminate one end of each (except for Backstays) as I could not get any accurate measurements until the mast was put up. A crane was booked at our sailing club yesterday, but I was unable to finish the work on the mast in time and he had to leave after lifting three other boats (one another HT) to go to another job. Grrrrrr! So it looks like waiting until the spring now. If any one has any advice or comments on my proposals please let me know.

            Martin

            P.S. Is the height off the deck of the Furling drum on the Foresail about 80cm. I have meaured several boats and this seems to be the norm although others have differing heights.

            14th October 2006 at 1:26 pm #11277

              Hello Martin
              The furlingdrum on our HT27 is right on the deck, if that is what you mean.
              Juup

              11th November 2006 at 12:14 pm #11278

                Hi

                I am going to be attaching a furling drum on the foresail but have seen that some HTs have the furling drum attached to the bow roller and some are suspended above – has anyone got any thoughts on which is best for a Mark 1 HT26?

                Sassy

                13th December 2006 at 6:40 pm #11279

                  My Headsail sheets go to tracks on the main cabin roof, about 1 metre either side of the mast. This means that my jib is shorter in the foot, in order to fit. Technically it is a 100% headsail, that is no overlap on the main, (ie a number 2 jib), with the resultant loss of drive in lighter winds. I have made up for this with a taller mast and a highly roached fully battened main, which is shorter in the foot to restore balance (weather trim). As I sail on the Scottish west coast, in the wild and woolly Atlantic, low winds are rarely an issue and the fact that my previous large jib was frequently partly rolled helped make my decision to change easier.

                  The slot is a lot better and I point quite well, certainly a lot better than before and use my flat cut asymmetrical chute in winds under 8 or 9 Knots, accepting the loss of pointing ability, to make up for the reduced drive…… DavidH

                  27th December 2006 at 7:51 am #11280

                    Thanks Geoff & Chrissie and DavidH

                    Taking both your suggestions into account, I’m thinking of getting a 130% roller reefing Genoa, so that I can reef it back into a Gibb and Baber haul it, combined with the storm sail for upwind.

                    While sailing into San Diego with the wind coming straight out to sea I noticed we where actually tacking backwards! Doesn’t say much for my tacking ability, but I’ve definitely got to solve this problem considering the hairy moments we had with the break wall.

                    DavidH you mentioned you lengthened the mast. Looking at you other posts I assume you did this yourself? Do you have a rough estimate of the cost? Just finishing repainting my 27 and am still reeling from sticker shock!

                    1st January 2007 at 9:19 pm #11281

                      I am interested in the idea of a 100% with tracks on the main cabin roof as on David's boat but am concerned about finding something strong enough to fix them too. Any thoughts on this?
                      Our idea is to have a second roller reefing foresail just in front of the genoa.
                      It would mean rolling the genoa in in order to tack it, but if you're off the wind you shouldn't be tacking too often.
                      Has anybody tried this?
                      Thanks
                      Robin

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