Hi Gary: I purchased my Gennaker at Hogin Sails in early '97 for $ 400.. It's "star shaped" so one is able to go to weather a little better. It's supposed to be 144 sf of sail area. It's made of 1 1/4 ounce material - "deep purple and light blue".
The tack is attached to a down haul which is setup the same as the jib down haul (same location), and runs back to the cockpit. The tack can be raised and lowered the same as raising and lowering the head with the halyard, which also runs back to the cockpit. The bow pulpit might get in the way when you're going to weather or tacking while flying gennaker from the spinnaker halyard. The length of the luff is a little less than the length of the forestay. If you fly it from the masthead the the tack will most likely always be above the bow pulpit. I would not recommend attaching the tack to the bow pulpit. How are you going to get the gennaker back to the cabin while singlehanded? I attach the tack of the gennaker to the down haul -forward of the bow pulpit. In heavier airs the luff will become rigid and you don't have to worry. It will fly similar to a spinnaker. It will want to fly high like a kite and to the lee. Lot's of fun!! The hassle is in the tacking because the sheets run forward of and around the forestay That's why I like to fly it on a long reach. I like to use it in winds up to 7 or so knots. To douse it, all I do is ease out on the halyard, down haul, and (1/8" sheets and put it below. It only takes a minute. I then raise the jib. The rig is not setup for flying gennakers from the masthead. I fly it from the masthead only in light air. It flys just as well from the spinnaker halyard. I wish I had a picture. Rich Cottrell _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
