[Rhodes22-list] Sail Inventory

[David Culp]

Wally:

Thank you, this is great information and helps me a lot in determining that
if I do decide, how big to go.  I want
something that I can sail with fully unfurled most of the time and only reef
if I really, really have to.

In summer around here, there is either not much wind so the 175 is too heavy
or it's 20 mph or better and it just seems like too much and I end up
rolling it up some.  The 125 might be the one to get for when the wind is
up.  Seems like I have the 175 rolled up a lot of times to the spreaders so
I can stay flatter and tack it easier.  A lot of times, I won't catch subtle
changes in the wind until the sail luffs.  I miss not having some tale-tells
to give me some clues earlier.

I am not giving up on the big sail though, because some days it works great,
unfortunately I don't see many of those days.

Question:  What type of furler do you have and does it allow changing
sails?  My boat has the factory original which I like because it is simple
and solid but would require stepping the mast and changing the sails.  I
want to be able to choose which sail to use at the slip before I go out.  On
days where
the 175 will work well, I'll go with it.  Wind is up and gusty (happens a
lot in Texas) probably would get the 125 up if I'm alone.  Like Rummy said,
there is no use
having sails underfoot and with no crew to help, I don't see many sail
changes happening on the water.

Question:  Do you happen to know the dimensions of your 125?  I'm guessing
the foot would be somewhere around 11 feet.

I left you off my list of "go to" people in an earlier post in oversight,
but you should have been on it as well because your information is always
on point and helpful as well.  Thanks again.

David

Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 13:37:59 -0400
From: "TN Rhodey" <tnrhodey at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Rummy is right, but I may still need a
       110
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Message-ID:
       <ebee322a0705251037o416f3302rff210e89ddac02e7 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

David,

Once your start furling any sail the shape and performance is negatively
effected. This is a fact. You can not furl the leading edge flat. Anyone who
tells you a partially furled sails does not have a negative effect on sail
shape is in denial. A 175 furled down to 125 is going to have pretty poor
shape regardless of vendor. Ask the vendor and they will tell you the same
thing (if they are honest). Yes you can make adjustments to limit the
problem but facts are facts. A 155 furled to 125 will pull better than a 175
furled to 125. A 155 at 135 will pull better than a 175 furled to
135......So up to conditions that call for 155 or less the 155 will be the
best sail.

Now is a 175 furled to 160 better than a 155? Maybe.....maybe not. This may
depend more on point of sail than anything else. Some say the 175 maximizes
potenital but in my eyes it is the wrong sail more often than it is the
right one. It does seem to me that those that like the 175 sail have never
tried anything different and typically don't race their boat.

I don't have a 110 (or a 175) but if you really want a smaller sail for
heavy weather I would consider the 125 or 135. I have a 155 and a 125. The
125 is the max size that can fit fully unfurled inside the shrouds. It comes
just short of hitting spreaders. This furls down to about a 110 and still
holds shape ok. I have flown a friends sail that looked to me like it would
be close to a 165/175. Great sail off the wind in steady light/med
winds... but really was too heavy for light winds and too much sail for
heavy winds. Many others on this list have complained about the 175 in very
light winds....too heavy and will not hold shape. Another common complaint
with 175 is lee helm.

It really depends on your own preference and sailing conditions.

Fair Winds,

Wally




On 5/24/07, David Culp <daculp at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Rummy:
>
> No doubt the 175 maximizes the potential of the boat design and therefore
> is
> the correct sail for the boat for the majority of owners.  On my narrow,
> long and winding lake with its fickle winds, I very rarely get to enjoy it
> fully unfurled for long periods.  It has happened on a few days and it was
> great.  When I can get a steady enough wind to keep it filled but not so
> strong as to require reducing its size I have been impressed with
> performance and have learned to tack it fairly well.  The terrain around
> here also causes many wind direction changes and the result is almost
> constant sail trimming.  You can be drifting one minute in 6 kts, and then
> around the next bend be reefing in 20.  This is not a sailing lake, at
> least
> not for boats with big gennies or spinnakers.  In fact, in 5 years I have
> only seen one spinnaker flown and it was me flying it from a friend's
> Flying
> Scot.
>
> You're right, I for one, admit that I do not know how to use the 175
> properly and if I ever want to really learn how, I am going to have to
> trailer to a better locale where I can get on some steady runs and
> experiment with it.   This year is my second season and I am really
> working
> the traveler a lot more and that has been a help with it.  I am going to
> get
> a pole and attach it to the shrouds as you suggest.  This will help me
> greatly on light wind days to keep the sail presented properly to the
> wind.
> In moderate winds, I usually have no problems wing and wing.
>
> It might be better for me in my locale to change out the furler to the CDI
> which allows sail changes because I would not want to give up having the
> 175
> for those special days.  I'm guessing a 110 would be the most useful and
> also guessing that it would furl out to just past the upper shroud area.
> Anyone have a 110 and can tell me where the clew extends to when fully
> unfurled?
>
> Thanks,
>
> David
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 07:46:08 EDT
> From: R22RumRunner at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Genoa size and usage
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Message-ID: <d36.8802f0d.3386d500 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> David,
> Instead of attaching the whisker pole to the special eye on the front of
> the
> mast, try attaching it to the shrouds. Going forward to attach and push
> out
> a whisker pole requires crew on board. You can attach to one of the
> shrouds
> without going forward and I do it all the time single handing.
> I was out sailing with another R22 skipper this past Sunday and he
> couldn't
> believe how simple it was. He thought the only place you could attach it
> was
> on  the front of the mast, Duh!
> I have allowed a lot of discussion of the 175 to slide by the past couple
> of
> weeks, but this is coming to a screeching halt.
> The 175 is the best sail for the R22. It provides all the power on this
> boat. Furling my 175 does not ruin the sail shape. I have the same Lee
> sail
> that
> came with the boat in 1988. Perhaps the Doyle sails have lousy shape when
> furled, but mine does not. The 175 gives you so many advantages,
> especially
> in
> light air conditions. In heavy air, it can give you a rush you have never
> experienced. Unless you have the CDI furler and can change your sails, the
> 175  is
> the route to go. If you don't think so, then you simply don't know your
> boat
> or how to use the sail properly and would be better off with a smaller
> sail.
>
> Rummy said that.