CD 330 & 36 sailors: How do you sheet your yankee?

[Russell]

We had our genoa recut as a yankee, so that it would work better with the staysail. Which it does. However, this moves the sheeting aft, which I expected: there is a genoa track on the toerail along both quarters. The problem is that the sheet needs to be inside the lifelines when beating, but outside when reaching or running. As you can imagine, this makes it somewhat tricky to fall off.

We haven't played with this much. The last time out, we put the turning blocks at the gates, and just moved or removed the gate lifelines as necessary. This worked after a fashion. BUT (a) this position is really too far forward for optimum sheeting, unless we're purposely powering up the sail, and (b) I would prefer not to have crew opening the gates while under way.

Any pointers much appreciated!

[Chris Reinke CD330 - Inni]

Russell - I keep the cars located just aft of the aft lifeline gate stanchion. The sheet will just touch the lifelines when I am heading to windward but I have not noticed any wear on either line or sheet. The only disadvantage is that the sheet then crosses the gate a bit higher (I have a furler) and creates a tripping potential.

Chris

We had our genoa recut as a yankee, so that it would work better with the staysail. Which it does. However, this moves the sheeting aft, which I expected: there is a genoa track on the toerail along both quarters. The problem is that the sheet needs to be inside the lifelines when beating, but outside when reaching or running. As you can imagine, this makes it somewhat tricky to fall off.

We haven't played with this much. The last time out, we put the turning blocks at the gates, and just moved or removed the gate lifelines as necessary. This worked after a fashion. BUT (a) this position is really too far forward for optimum sheeting, unless we're purposely powering up the sail, and (b) I would prefer not to have crew opening the gates while under way.

Any pointers much appreciated!

[Joe]

We had our genoa recut as a yankee, so that it would work better with the staysail. Which it does. However, this moves the sheeting aft, which I expected: there is a genoa track on the toerail along both quarters. The problem is that the sheet needs to be inside the lifelines when beating, but outside when reaching or running. As you can imagine, this makes it somewhat tricky to fall off.

We haven't played with this much. The last time out, we put the turning blocks at the gates, and just moved or removed the gate lifelines as necessary. This worked after a fashion. BUT (a) this position is really too far forward for optimum sheeting, unless we're purposely powering up the sail, and (b) I would prefer not to have crew opening the gates while under way.

Any pointers much appreciated!

I suspect your genoa was incorrectly recut. As you no doubt discovered, a partially furled genoa does not a yankee make. Alberg did not intend for either the 330 or the 36 to have a furling headsail and having one in place dramatically reduces sailing performance. The tracks are for the yankee, and not for a genoa. After several years on our 330, we removed the furler and the genoa and replaced it with a high-clew yankee cut from the original sail plan which we got from Robinhood Marine. Sailing performance increased dramtically, espcially when close-hauled. No matter how close hauled, the yankee sheets never get even close to the life lines.

I just looked at the pictures of the 36 and the 330 on the original sales brochures (for myterious reasons, all brochures show the boat close hauled) and you can clearly see that the yankee sheets are well clear of the life lines no matter where the car is set. The same is also true in the promotional video for the 330 where you see the boat close-hauled from several angles. No sheet problems. If you want, I can E-mail you scans of the brochure photos or, if you send me your snail-mail address, a copy of the video.

Joe



tgjournal@gestalt.org

[Russell]

My postal address is:

Russell Turpin
PMB 138
4032 S. Lamar #500
Austin, Tx 78704

I'm much obliged.

[Matt Cawthorne]

Russel,
The sheets on my 36 pull on the lifelines when close hauled. They would prefer to be inside the lifelines at that point. When I first got the boat I would open the gate and let the sheet inside the lifeline, but it caused trouble in the end when I would forget to let it back out. The rubbing of the sheets has caused the plastic to wear off of the lifelines in a few spots. The age of my sails may contribute to this, but I am not certain. I have roller furling with my yankees. The boat came with both a large and "small" yankee. The smaller sail is perhaps a 110% and is the only one I ever use anymore. After 18 years I am probably due for new lifelines anyway. You never can tell what corrosion lurks under plastic.

Matt

We had our genoa recut as a yankee, so that it would work better with the staysail. Which it does. However, this moves the sheeting aft, which I expected: there is a genoa track on the toerail along both quarters. The problem is that the sheet needs to be inside the lifelines when beating, but outside when reaching or running. As you can imagine, this makes it somewhat tricky to fall off.

We haven't played with this much. The last time out, we put the turning blocks at the gates, and just moved or removed the gate lifelines as necessary. This worked after a fashion. BUT (a) this position is really too far forward for optimum sheeting, unless we're purposely powering up the sail, and (b) I would prefer not to have crew opening the gates while under way.

Any pointers much appreciated!

mcawthor@bellatlantic.net