Which Block for Jibsheet

[rhr1956]

Boat: Pearson 26 OneDesign

The shrouds enter the deck about 10 inches inboard of the gunwale. There is a fixed block about two feet aft of the shrouds set inboard about 5 inches from the gunwale. The track begins about 3 feet aft of the first block and is located right on the gunwale. The track ends just in front of the winch. There is not a jam cleat aft of the winch...only a standard deck cleat.

Question: Do I route the jibsheet through the first block when using the genoa? Or skip that block and go straight to the block on the track.

Question #2: Is there a proper way to use the deck cleat or should I replace it with a jam type cleat?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

Boat: Pearson 26 OneDesign

The shrouds enter the deck about 10 inches inboard of the gunwale. There is a fixed block about two feet aft of the shrouds set inboard about 5 inches from the gunwale. The track begins about 3 feet aft of the first block and is located right on the gunwale. The track ends just in front of the winch. There is not a jam cleat aft of the winch...only a standard deck cleat.

Question: Do I route the jibsheet through the first block when using the genoa? Or skip that block and go straight to the block on the track.

Question #2: Is there a proper way to use the deck cleat or should I replace it with a jam type cleat?

The block on the track for the Jenny... the others likely for the storm jib...

[daddle]

Jam cleat would be safer and easier. One Design rules may say otherwise.

[Weyalan]

As a rule of thumb, when you are sailing to windward, with the headsail sheeted in hard, you want the angle of the headsail sheet to be at 45 degrees to the horizontal, so use whatever block location gives you closest to 45 degrees. If this is the car on the track (and it should be), then you have the added advantage of being able to move the car to suit (a) different size sails, and (b) different wind conditions (ie in stronger winds, move the car aft so open the sail leech, to "spill" air from the top of the sail.

The fixed block may be for "free-sheeting" for reaching.

[smurphny]

You should have a genny and a working jib. The inside blocks are for the working jib which will not trim if you use the track. The track is for the genoa.

[rhr1956]

Cool...thanks for the feedback. I'll give it a try with the jib sheeted through the forward block next time and see if I get improvement. Thanks again.