what is the best approach to off-wind w/ CD31 -spinn or geno

[Russell Johnson]

I need to improve the down wind performance of my CD31 - I sail with a main, staysail, and yankee. I am planning on purchasing a new sai - would you recommend a big genoa or some type of spinnaker or drifter?

If I add a big geona, I may gain some advantage in light air windward sailing also?
thanks

Russell



rajarch@bellsouth.net

[Patrick Turner]

Are you looking for speed type performance, or comfort factor performance? I have found that Cape Dorys in general (I suppose alot of boats...in general) are really sloppy downwind. Try sailing with just the headsail...no main at all. You sacrafice a small amount of speed, but there is a very noticable change in how she will handle....lot less sloppy. I was sailing right next to a CD31 coming into the San Francisco Bay...I had just the Yankee Jib and he had everything flying. I was maybe a 1/2 knot behind him but much smoother sailing.

Pat



patturner@earthlink.net

[Andrew Denmark]

After years of poling out the genoa and trying combinations of double headsail rigs, I bit the bullet and bought a cruising spinnaker (Banks Sails) and a Chutescoop. After some brief instruction about using the Chutescoop to raise and douse the chute I've found this sail to provide the downwind boost that makes my Cape Dory 27 truly fun when the wind is abaft the beam -- both fast and easy. I don't use a pole because I don't sail dead down if I can help it. The addition of a 150% genoa (AP #1) will help upwind performance in light air but consider a breakaway inner stay at the same time or tacking will be frustrating and tough on the sail.



trekker@coastalnet.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

Russell,

Until you decide on a spinnaker or genoa, drop the staysail when sailing downwind. It blocks the wind from reaching the yankee which is the headsail that you really want to fill when heading downwind. Also, if you tend to sail on a broad reach rather than a dead run, don't let the main out so that the end of the boom extends more than a couple feet beyond the rail. Keeping the boom and the mainsail closer to the boat helps to reduce the tendency of the boat to roll.

We've got a cruising spinnaker on our cutter. It's a great sail.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

I need to improve the down wind performance of my CD31 - I sail with a main, staysail, and yankee. I am planning on purchasing a new sai - would you recommend a big genoa or some type of spinnaker or drifter?

If I add a big geona, I may gain some advantage in light air windward sailing also?
thanks

Russell

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Patrick Turner]

If you have a Cutter, when sailing dead down wind, you might also try sheeting the stays'l in tight so that it is centered. The stays'l effectively hides behind the mast and the Jib can fill up with air...there is little if any pressure on the stays'l....saves a trip up front.

Pat



patturner@earthlink.net

[David Brownlee]

We have a 170% genny (yup) for our CD27, and we swear by it for light air work on the Chesapeake. It's not a baggy drifter, but a true jib, and we can carry it until it blows about 10 (or more offwind).

We wing it out on a long telescoping pole when running, and it works like a charm.

I must admit, we've always talked about getting a spinnaker of some sort, but we don't feel the need very acutely.

Of course, we're not cutter rigged, so we don't face the chore of dragging this monster around an inner headstay.

Ann and David Brownlee
WINDRUSH
CD 27
Havre de Grace, MD



dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu