S2 9.2A Poor Pointing Ability ??

[Maisso]

Hello All,

I have recently purchased a 1983 S2 9.2A which is in great shape and hardly used. I love this boat. I am on Lake Superior and wind conditions vary greatly

She's rigged with a 150 Roller furling Genoa and full stock main both of which are newer and crisp.

My tack to tack inclusive angle when close-hauled seems to be excessive - in excess of 90 degrees (probably closer to 120-150) she seems to perform well - what can I do from a rigging / sail standpoint to be able to sail closer to the wind?

Would reefing the main help?
Change to a 110 Genoa?
Place the Genoa Sheet Blocks in different location - seems to be ok

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Maisso - Lake Superior Sailor

[Cheechako]

That is pretty much typical for most boats. 120 would be on the bad side. 90 is dreaming for all but deep draft racers. Alot of people think they do it, but you have to perform like you're racing....unless it's a perfect breeze, sail set and no chop. Are you using your gps/chart to determine this? or just the compass....

[Bash]

Judging by the questions being asked in the OP, a course on sail trim would be beneficial. At the very least, there are excellent books on the subject.

Don't be mislead by the crispness of the sails. OEM sails or poorly cut sails from a discount sail loft could contribute to the type of problems you're experiencing.

A 150% genoa is never going to be a great-pointing sail because of how it backwinds the main when close-hauled. If a cruiser gets on this thread and claims to tack through 70 degrees with his #1, ignore him.

[Brob2]

The basic stuff too, eg make sure shrouds and stays are properly tensioned, particularly the back stay. A poorly tuned rig will have dramatic effects on pointing ability. It is worth playing with the blocks to see how a change effects the boat's performance as well as the leech line should you have one. Proper sail twist is also important. The main will luff a bit when your pointing high. How far inboard your genoa blocks are also has a very big effect on pointing ability.

[ewsponberg]

I second the comments above. Even though the sails look new, they could be stretched or just not well cut. You can consult with a sailmaker for an opinion. Rigging tension is also good to check. I would put as much or more emphasis on the headstay as that controls the luff and sag of the jib. The genoa is too large for good windward ability. Change to a non-overlapping jib, 100% LP, just enough to fill the fore triangle and you'll have better pointing ability. Yes, check the sheeting positions for both the jib sheets and the main sheets because they control the twist and set of the sails. Make sure your halyards are tight (giving tight luffs to both sails), that your downhaul on the main is tight, and that the outhaul on the main is tight. A book or course on sailing trim is highly recommended. Finally, if you have not already, check to make sure the bottom of the boat is clean (hard to get dirty in a fresh water lake). And the propeller--do you have a feathering or folding propeller? If not, then the propeller drag is holding you back.

I grew up on and learned to sail on Lake Superior also, and still have a home in Marquette, so I am familiar with your cruising grounds a little.

I hope that helps.

Eric

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Bash

Judging by the questions being asked in the OP, a course on sail trim would be beneficial. At the very least, there are excellent books on the subject.

Excellent advice to start.

Because the problem could be mast rake, mast prebend, sails, (are they built to sail plan for the boat or to fill up the space made by boom and mast?), sail selection for the particular wind, sheet tension, traveler car position depending on wind speed, downhaul or cunningham tension (again depending on wind speed) outhaul tension, battens or no battens, batten tension for the particular wind, jib sheet tension, jib selection for the particular wind conditions, crew placement (for the particular wind) ...................and it goes on

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Maisso

Hello All,

I have recently purchased a 1983 S2 9.2A which is in great shape and hardly used. I love this boat. I am on Lake Superior and wind conditions vary greatly

She's rigged with a 150 Roller furling Genoa and full stock main both of which are newer and crisp.

My tack to tack inclusive angle when close-hauled seems to be excessive - in excess of 90 degrees (probably closer to 120-150) she seems to perform well - what can I do from a rigging / sail standpoint to be able to sail closer to the wind?

Would reefing the main help?
Change to a 110 Genoa?
Place the Genoa Sheet Blocks in different location - seems to be ok

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Maisso - Lake Superior Sailor

Reefing the main would help in wind say around 20. That 150 outta be okay in 5 knot winds though. There isn't much that doesn't change in sailboat racing. As the wind increases, sails get smaller (and are adjusted for less draft). Luff tension is increased with downhaul or cunningham adjustments as well as outhaul tension. (and the mast is raked more.....for upwind)

[WebWench]

We have an S2 CC 9.2 and always found that it sailed better to the wind (if above 7 -10 knots) with the smaller Jib than it did with the larger genoa....I think ours are 120 and 150 respectively.
Have you tried reeling the genoa in to see if it does better then?