Well, remember I like to sail in winds above 8 knots and have been
known to stay home on the light days.
I do not like the 175%, I can only get a good set in 4-6 knots and
because it comes back all the way to the winches it does not allow
genoa track adjustments.
This year I used a 100% and a 135% on a Harken 0 system. The
sailcloth is Doyle's "Challenger" which is an upgrade from the
standard Dacron.
The 135% was fine about 8 knots to about 20 knots and I ran the 100%
for about 20-30 knots. I did the sail changes at the dock and they
took only a few minutes.
This season the sails got a good workout; lots of heavy days. The
100% did fine up to the point where the hull flair starts to do funny
things, which I consider the limits of the boat. The 135% felt a
little small on the light days, but was fine when the wind came up. I
never got the cruising spinnaker out (lazy on the hardware install).
If you are only going to get one headsail I would be tempted to
recommend a 110%, if you plan to stay put on the heavier days, it
would be 135-145%.
MJM
05 Nov 2000
How easy is it to see around or under your 135%? Are there different
types of headsails - ones that ride high and sweep around as far as
the one 175% and ones that ride low but don't come as far back? Does
this question make sense?
My only concern with the 175% is that it looks like it will be hard
to see around - even with the window option.
Rafe Cockerill
05 Nov 2000
Not bad for the 135%. To get the right sheeting angle the clew has to
be higher than the 175%. The 175% comes all the way back to the
winches, and there's not much room to play. I think the 175 is too
large for the boat, but each to their own.
MJM
06 Nov 2000
Reply to Rafe and question for MJM.
Rafe: The deck sweeper Genoa is difficult to see around. I use my
crew as a lookout, but when I'm single-handing, I'll sit on the
leeward side of the boat, and lean out. The window option is quite
helpful, but not perfect. I just don't like my 175% because I
frequently sail in winds in excess of 10 knots. You want the deck
sweeper cut because it develops the most power for your boat. A high
cut jib for this boat would be mainly used as a storm jib and used
just to give a slot effect to the tiny mainsail.
MJM: What is your opinion of a 120% headsail capable of furling down
to 100%? Naturally it would have a luff pad. What do you use for
25-knot breezes. I'm new to the Rhodes, and I like it. I felt real
safe in a squall with 40 knot gusts [under bare poles!] I'm much
more used to a fractional rig, than the masthead rig of the Rhodes.
You have to learn new habits using the masthead rig.
Dick Sheehan
06 Nov 2000
You might be better off with the 110%. GB has it set just right for
inside sheeting and it is an off-the-shelf design. I used it for a
season. It is a very nice sail for the boat and points well. It
should take you pretty close to your limits with the boat. I was able
to reef it to about 85-90% (2.5-3 rolls) before the shape and size
were useless. You are giving up some downwind power and light air
sailing.
Right now I'm running a 100% that can take a few more knots and I can
set it for a little less heel. The 120% would not add that much power
and would screw up the hardware geometry. One of my other sails this
year is a 135%. It is ok but still not in the zone that I was
looking for, I am tempted to try a 145%, but remember, I can change
my headsails.
MJM
07 Nov 2000
