[Rhodes22-list] Wally's dilemma on sails

[Mary Lou Troy]

Wally,
Good job on sorting out who said what. (Bill & Ted from the TSBB would be 
proud).

As far as pointing ability, the 175 does great fully deployed. As you furl 
it you lose pointing ability slowly until you can run the sheets inside - 
whereupon you gain something only to lose it if you need to furl more but 
then you have a 125. I would think going from a 125 to a 155, you would 
find a big improvement at the windspeeds you are talking about. With a 175, 
you would probably improve significantly until 10 knots and then maybe see 
some decrease in pointing ability if you furled a bit for 12 knots. At 12 
knots we've usually furled enough to affect pointing ability but we are not 
very quick to deal with gusts so we probably furl more than sailors who 
play the puffs more. We find that with the sail furled just a little bit we 
are able to point as well as most boats (excluding the Js and a few other 
performance boats -but we don't point as well as they do anyway). Not sure 
how far we have to furl it to use the side-deck tack which would improve 
pointing ability. At the point we that can, we will take it to the cabin 
top leads but by then you would have since switched to your 125.

Does the Harken furler really make sail changes as easily as changes with 
hank on sails?

Mary Lou


At 10:53 AM 3/14/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Ed,
>
>Thanks for taking a shot at posting the real basic question but you got it 
>totally wrong. :-)
>
>The question is/was; what sail provides the best blend of speed and 
>pointing ability in 8 - 12 knots?  It is a multiple-choice question and 
>the captain is not one of the answers offered. I am not trying to figure 
>out who is the better sailor. I do agree that the skipper's skill is an 
>important component but bringing that into this equation is bad math. I am 
>seeking feedback on sails not sailors. I didn't ask could a beginner with 
>a 175 beat a pro with a 155 or anything like that.
>
>Bill and Rummy said they loved their 175s, I believe them. I asked them 
>when they furled. The thread then moved on to the point that Rummy and 
>Bill claimed they don't furl sails in a 20 knot wind let alone in 12 knot. 
>Bill clarified that he did furl his main. Roger added his insight and I 
>thought it made sense based on what I have experienced in my boat.
>
>I have agreed that a 175 sail is faster in certain wind speeds. I don't 
>agree that it is best in 20 knots. I am not seeking a sail for 20 knots 
>though. My 125 has that covered. I don't need a better headsail running 
>with the wind my spinnaker has that covered.
>
>One point (pun intended) that is not being mentioned in this conversation 
>is pointing ability. My main concern about the 175 is that I will sail 
>along quite smartly from riverbank to riverbank and not make any headway. 
>I don't find that relaxing or fun. Neither Bill not Rummy provided any 
>feed back about pointing. Bill said he could make it around a triangular 
>course. I wish we raced in a triangle but we only have two marks. We race 
>dead into the wind than back down wind. So is a 175 a good sail for this 
>when it is blowing 8-12? I am thinking once this big things gets furled 
>down sail shape will suffer.
>
>One thing I have noticed is that every one that races even a little bit 
>liked the 155, those that don't race seem to like the 170. I said all 
>along that I have an open mind but the logic seems to steer me towards a 
>155 as the better sail for the conditions I asked about. I appreciate 
>posts from all.
>
>I hope this clarifies.
>
>Wally
>
>
>
>>From: "kroposki" <kroposki at innova.net>
>>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Wally's dilemma on sails
>>Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 08:32:16 -0500
>>
>>
>>Wally,
>>
>>      I just got back to my computer and have not read all the post about
>>which sail you are leaning to.  Saturday I had a unique experience with
>>a new Rhodie and I will let him tell the story when he gets back.
>>
>>      The real basic question is whether you sail to relax or do you want
>>to race (compete).  If you want to relax and enjoy, the 175 Genny can be
>>reasonably adjusted for most sailable wind conditions.  But if you want
>>maximum control then you need different sails.  Not just a choice of 110
>>or 150.
>>
>>      I believe that Saturday, Keith Burhardt(sp?) demonstrated that with
>>attention to detail, you could adjust the 175 to achieve near maximum
>>potential at any point of sail.  Just ask him, he will be back on the
>>list probably later in the week.
>>
>>      Some of the questions and issues presented in the discussion of
>>your question are (1) skill of the captain (number 1!), and (2) plain
>>old individual differences.  Some people like tea without sugar, some
>>with, some with lemon, some with cream.
>>
>>      From what I have seen is that someone skillful with adjusting the
>>175 would push someone with different sails.  The 175 might not win, but
>>then again, it might.  It is the same issues as a standard main against
>>the IMF.  The real issue is how skillful is the user of each.  I think
>>that with his sail configuration that Rummy would push Roger to working
>>to win.  But then again, Roger might not win.  They are both very
>>skillful with the paint brushes that they have.
>>
>>                         Ed K
>>
>>
>>
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>
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