how to route sheets for big genoas

[Megunticook]

We had some light wind today, so I pulled out the biggest genoa I have, which came with the boat. It worked well, but I'm not sure what the proper way is to route the sheets. Instead of routing through the blocks on the deck, I ran the sheets over the lifelines and outside the shrouds--there are adjustable pulleys mounted just forward of the winches on the gunwales, so I ran the sheets through them and then around the winches.

But the genoa's foot ends up being draped over the lifeline, so it affects the shape. What's the correct way to do this? If you have any photos that would be helpful.

Here's a shot showing how I had it set up today:

[pete faga]

Nice picture
My guess is the sail was cut wrong
Your placement of the sheets for the genoa should be outside the shrouds like you did
Hope your son enjoyed the sail
Pete

[Jim Cornwell]

A genoa / lifeline conflict is pretty common. It appears from the photo that you could haul the headsail a little further aloft if a pendant of 6" or so was added at the tack of the sail. I suggest you try experimenting with this using a strong lashing and see what happens.

[Hymodyne]

an 8" pendant allows my jib to just clear the lifelines.

James

[Carl Thunberg]

This is somewhat related to your question, but on a different challenge of large genoas. One of the problems of flying a big genoa on a tiller steered boat is, you have a HUGE blind spot. In your picture, you are on a port tack. You have a blind spot on your starboard (leeward) side from roughly 12 o'clock to 2:30. Any boat (or navigation buoy) within that blind spot will not be seen. One way to mitigate the problem of blind spots is to steer from the leeward side of the boat. That will allow you to see both sides of the boat. It feels very strange at first, because you push against the weather helm instead of pulling against it, and you're closer to the water than you're accustomed to. It's worth a try. I sailed that way all the time on my former CD25. I found that I felt safer with the added visibility by sitting on the leeward side, and I adjusted to the "awkwardness" of it pretty quickly.

[Neil Gordon]

>>In your picture, you are on a port tack. You have a blind spot on your starboard (leeward) side from roughly 12 o'clock to 2:30.<<

So if he sails in the morning or late afternoon he'll be okay?

One way to mitigate the problem of blind spots is to steer from the leeward side of the boat. That will allow you to see both sides of the boat.<<

Except in bigger wind and waves, when I can't see over the high side if I'm sitting on the low side. Just remember to look around, as often as necessary depending on the traffic. I'd also not trust the port/starboard tack thingy, as it's always safer to assume the boats you meet up with don't know the rules (or can't see you, either!).

[s2sailorlis]

As one of the other posters commented this is a typcial problem with "deck sweeper" genoas. It is a function of sail cut, location of genoa track and blocks (don't use term pulley... ), plus location of the shrouds.

Having owned a fin-keeled boat in the past, with inboard genoa tracks, i needed to "skirt" the genny inside of the lifelines to get a tight trim - this is a typical technique used when you have inboard tracks. In the case of CD, the genoa tracks are outboard of the lifelines and one can't really get a tight trim.

I notice on my CD22 that I point and sail better when I don't over trim the genny...in very light winds I notice that depending upon the sailcloth weight of the genoa, you are sometimes better off furling it up a bit so you can get better sail shape.

We had some light wind today, so I pulled out the biggest genoa I have, which came with the boat. It worked well, but I'm not sure what the proper way is to route the sheets. Instead of routing through the blocks on the deck, I ran the sheets over the lifelines and outside the shrouds--there are adjustable pulleys mounted just forward of the winches on the gunwales, so I ran the sheets through them and then around the winches.

But the genoa's foot ends up being draped over the lifeline, so it affects the shape. What's the correct way to do this? If you have any photos that would be helpful.

Here's a shot showing how I had it set up today:

[Neil Gordon]

You might also lower the lifelines at the bow pulpit, which will allow the foot of the Genoa to pass through unobstructed.

[Megunticook]

Thanks for the tips. A pendant sounds like a good solution, I'll give that a try.

Agreed about the visibility problem. I found myself switching sides frequently to make sure I knew what was behind the sail. As we were passing the end of the breakwater, a little power boat zipped in from behind and snuck through the gap between us and the lighthouse, and there wasn't a huge amount of room. I heard him and saw him coming from behind, but it just was a good reminder that there are plenty of yahoos out there who do foolish and unpredictable things in boats, especially power boats (that sounds snobbish, but it's true).

First year with the boat--and owing a boat, period--so learning lots.

[pete faga]

I like Neil's idea because it probably is $ cheaper if the sail is in good condition
A pendant will work also but would maybe require a sailmaker to recut the headsail for the pendant
My 2cents
Pf