If Charlie is interested in spending serious money for one headsail in order to get better racing results then I think he would be well advised to get really serious about racing and be prepared to part with more serious money for a headsail inventory. My c&c 35 loses a lot if i neglect a needed headsail change when conditions dictate. So you are correct in your reply. Our boats need the proper headsail to do their best in all conditions and aside from having the inventory you crew needs to be able to make efficient headsail changes on the fly. Rather than be frustrated because you don’t have the best sail for the conditions maybe just race when the conditions are appropriate for the one good sail you have. Furling headsails are very nice but on our boats not the best for racing and relying on handicap adjustments is not that good either. My 35 probably requires at minimum 6 good sailors to race at it best and maybe more at high windspeed to put weight on the windward rail to keep heel angle below 20 degrees
On Tue, Feb 9, 2021 at 5:41 PM Robert Abbott via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Interesting discussion on sail selection. And that is a broad subject. > What kind of racing? > > While I have retired from racing, I clearly remember racing with a sail > inventory....4 head sails (150% light and heavy air...#1, 135%...#2, and > a 100%..#3), 2 spinnakers (systematical 3/4 oz. and a 1/2 oz.). Many > races we (I as the foredeck person) was changing head sails to suit > changes conditions. We sometimes did a spinnaker peel (something we > practiced). The main stayed full until we had to go down to the #3. > Much of this racing was on a C&C 33 MKII and a C&C 34R. > > Where I sail here in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, there is no > one sail that works best for any given race day. I am now a reacher, > not a racer, but I still know the difference in sail selection for the > conditions. I now sail much of the season with a furled 135%...it is my > go to sail...many days my 100% blade is the sail to have...one day last > year, a fellow lister here that we raced a lot together, was coming with > me for an afternoon sail and he said "it is going to be a light air day, > bring your 155% light air Kevlar today.... I did we dropped the 135% and > hoisted the 155% and it was the right sail for the day. The next day, > no way could I hoist the 155%. > > One head sail for racing is something I have no knowledge and/or > experience in and therefore have no relevant or helpful advice. > > If you wish to race with only one head sail, and your prevailing wind is > around 10 knots true, my best guess would be a 135%. > > Robert Abbott > AZURA > C&C 32 - #277 > Halifax, N.S. > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks > - Stu -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
