Headsail Choice -- Need Advice

[Hull47]

My Cape Dory 25 is in need of a new furling head sail -- normally a simple case of replacement. However, I single-hand most of the time and find that when when the genny is all out and the boat is heeling more than 10 degrees, my visibility on the leeward fore quarter is nil. If the Upper Chesapeake happens to be "busy" (most weekend days, Spring through Fall), my only safe choices are to steer from the leeward side, which is not very comfortable, or furl the sail and sacrifice sail trim and boat speed. With a new headsail purchase in my future, do I have options that give me the visibility I need without sacrificing sail trim or too much boat speed -- chould I switch to a 110 or standard jib or perhaps use a 150 from a smaller boat (shorter luff)? What do I lose -- or perhaps gain (in addition to visibility) over the 150 with its visibility issues? Any and all suggestions/opinions will be welcome and appreciated.

[Sandy D.]

Hull 47,
My 27' has a 145 as a headsail. It is cut very high and I have fantastic visibility. Tell you sailmaker what you want to achieve,and I'm sure he can set you up. Good luck,

-Sandy

[Steve Laume]

While you are talking to your sailmaker you could ask about a window or two. It works for smaller one designs. It would be a shame to give up sail area just so you could see where you are going, Steve.

[Carl Thunberg]

Hull47,

You mentioned sailing from the leeward side. On the advice of a racing friend of mine, I've switched to sailing from the leeward side 100% of the time when the wind is under about 18-20 knots (which is most of the time). There are a lot of advantages to it once you get used to it. The primary advantage is you can see your genoa telltales, and the other boats (i.e. opponents ). You're right, it feels strange at first, but the improved visibility really helps. I find I sail consistently faster when I'm on the leeward side. Another benefit is, it makes you keenly aware of weather helm because you have to push the tiller instead of pulling, so you make the necessary adjustments to balance the helm sooner (i.e. reef sooner, change headsail, etc). Just something to consider. I'll leave the sail cutting questions to those who know what they're talking about .

[marilou]

Sailing out of Hampton Roads with a 150 most of the time, I experience a lot of traffic and stuff...navy ships, container ships, fishing boats, bridges, marks, barges, crab pots, sailboat races, etc. I added a window and hiking stick, a long time ago, and they both help a lot. I, also, find myself on the low side when I want to see whats going on around me, including the sails. The hiking stick gives me the ability to move around quickly for different views

[rtbates]

Funny that you mentioned that you find sailing from the lee side less comfortable than sailing from the windward side, because I'm just the opposite. I find it's much more comfortabe to sit on the leeward side especially when the wind is up and the rail is buried. Why? Because as the boat heels I'm pressed against the coaming more and there is no need to try to brace myself as I'm already against the coaming. Whereas if I'm on the windward side the change in heel requires that I constantly adjust my bracing so that I don't slide to leeward. I don't like fighting gravity.I do have to stand up from time to time to see over the windward side! There just isn't any one spot where you can stay stationary and see both sides unless you do what I sometimes do and that is to sit on the bridge deck with my feet on the compainway ladder in the cabin. That only works if you have a tiller or wheel that you can reach behind you or use lines. For that I have two 30 foot lines that I attached to the tiller, run through blocks on each coaming and then forward. With these I can steer from the bow. Talk about visibility. Each to his own said the man as he kissed his cow.

Windows in the genoa or having it cut high similar to a yankee on a cutter would work.

[Stan W.]

A window is a very good idea.

While I prefer to steer from the leeward side at more modest angles of heel, when you get up in the 30 degree plus range I too prefer sitting to windward with my legs braced against the opposite bench. I have a fairly high cut 135 and you still can't see under it when the boat is heeled that much.

[Carter Brey]

SK,

The 150 I used on my CD25 had a window, and it helped, although it's limited field of view and optical distortion (particularly when covered with brine or spray) are no insurance against stupid sailor tricks. I remember once heaving to to put a reef in my main. Once the reef was set, I trimmed the mainsheet and brought the genoa around to leeward to resume course. As I gathered way, I obeyed an impulse to take a quick peek around the genoa's foot. I was about to T-bone an anchored fishing boat toward which I had drifted. You never saw a full keel sailboat turn so fast. My heart was in my mouth as I nonchalantly waved to the fisherman a few feet to leeward. Yeah, I meant to do that!

As a result, when I had a new 150 made for my present boat, I didn't bother asking for a window. I prefer periodically to move over to leeward for a good comprehensive look rather than relying on a fractional view that may or may not include an obstacle. Of course, you can have a window and still move over for a look. Your call.

CB

[Warren Kaplan]

When I sail solo....which is most of the time, I spend a good deal of the time sitting on the leeward side when my 140% genny is deployed.

Much better vision forward when the boat is heeled and to my mind much better for for viewing the headsail shape when trimming.

[Dick Barthel]

I added a window and hiking stick, a long time ago, and they both help a lot. I, also, find myself on the low side when I want to see whats going on around me, including the sails. The hiking stick gives me the ability to move around quickly for different views

Marilou, I wondering if you would give more detail on you hiking stick. Also I remember reading in a recent sailing magazine of an older sailor who rigged ropes I think it was to help pull himself up from the lee side when heeled. That can be a chore for us old timers.

Dick

[Hull47]

Wow! I never expected so many helpful replies so quickly. Thank you one and all. Whatever I decide on for my new headsail, I'll make an extra effort to get comfortable on the leeward side of the cockpit next season. Sometimes it just takes a little added encouragement to a adopt new habit.

Now I know where to come for a good dose of sage advice.
Happy sailing (only a few short months to a new season) and Happy New Year to you all.

[marilou]

My tiller extension is a twist lock/telescoping, quick release type. You can quickly insert it into the tiller (5/8" fitting towards the tip of tiller) by depressing a plunger and engaging the detent pin. It swivels 360 and up 90(180). It telescopes approx. 27" to 48".

Being one of those "old timers", I am having trouble recalling mfg.
I think it is Forespar/might be Nicro-Fico. Hope to take the boat out tomorrow and attempt to catch some strippers, will take a "new" look at it.

Have not yet tried assist ropes, but it might be useful. I usually just spill some air, come about, or and ask someone to grab my hand.

[Evergreen]

Hello:
We have only spent two long weekends on our new CD36, however, we were amazed how well the standard 100% Yankee pulled our boat along.
Question: Does anyone have or think it is necessary to have a larger genoa (135% or 150%) for light air conditions? I don't want to wait until the summer sailing season to find out that we really should have one.
Any input that you may have would be appreciated.
Thank you, Philip & Sharon "Evergreen"

[Anthony P. Jeske]

Phil & Sharon:
Yes, I believe a bigger genoa is a must on our heavy Cape Dorys.
Let's face it, our boats aren't good in light air, we need all the help we can get and a bigger genoa REALLY helps!
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
CD-28 #365
NO REGRETS
San Diego

[Dean Abramson]

Phil & Sharon,

We just moved up from a CD 25D to a CD 31. I also wondered about the need for a large genoa in light air, and in fact the boat came with one, a 150, in addition to the yankee and staysail. I believe that the weight to sail area, and sail area to LWL ratios are similar on the 31 and the 36, with the 36 being better.

I was pleasantly surprised by the 31's performance in light air with the staysail and yankee, except downwind when you can't effectively use the staysail and the yankee is a bit small. When I say light, I mean five knots or less. I find that "tacking" (gybing) the boat downwind is more effective than trying to go dead downwind wing and wing. Above a broad reach, I like the boat's light air performance well enough. I have only had the boat one season, and some of the sails were really shot, but it seems to me that the boat will go hull speed in ten knots of true wind.

I think that you need to decide whether you want to keep the inner forestay. I tried my 150 genoa out, but I could not get it to tack between the two stays. Of course, you can roll it up partially to tack it, but that seems like a nuisance to me. My boat has a detachable inner stay. If the weather is forecast for light wind all day, then I might remove the inner stay and spend the day with the genoa. But changing ruller furling sails is not something I want to do on a daily basis. If you do get a big headsail, you might want to consider making the inner stay detachable, though. Another option is to consider an assymetrical spinnaker for downwing light air situations. After one season, I feel that my inexperience with the boat affected my performance more than my sail wardrobe.

Having said all that, I will also share that I am currently buying new sails, and I am going with a yankee, a staysail, and a full-battened main. I like the cutter rig. All boats are compromises. Of course, we do usually have a bit more wind up here.

This is kind of rambling, but I guess what I am saying is that you might want to use the boat first before investing in a genny. If the sails that came with your boat are decent, you might be happily surprised.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Dean