Code 0 wind angles

[Letterkenny]

The current boat I sail doesn’t have any downwind sails. I got a good deal on the factory code zero for my new boat but between my research on the internet and what my dealer says, I get conflicting info. What wind angles and speeds can I run my code 0? Dealer says up to 50 degrees in light wind (under 10 knots) and up to 140 degrees in heavier wind. Does this seem right? I will get an A2 eventually to sail down to about 160 but I’d love to use the code 0 on broad reaches versus just using my Genoa.

[Breaking Waves]

Yea, you can fly most zeros from just aft of close hauled say 40-50 degrees back to 140 or 150. A-chute will be very slightly (in cruising terms) faster on the deeper angles, but the zero is so much easier to use. For cruising they are very versatile sails, for racing they have a narrower window where they are the best possible option. Typically for cruising you want them cut a bit deeper, with less mid-girth than a racing zero.

If you wanted to run it at 160 . . .you could pole it out the other side.

[Letterkenny]

Thanks for the insight. What’s the best way to install a whisker pole?

[dougweibel]

We fly our code 0 all the way to dead downwind, though for deeper angles we have to reef and center the main (or furl it entirely in lighter winds) to keep it from blanketing the headsail. From 160 to 180 we sometimes fly our code 0 and our genoa wing-on-wing, which is a surprisingly stable combination.

[Letterkenny]

Originally Posted by dougweibel

We fly our code 0 all the way to dead downwind, though for deeper angles we have to reef and center the main (or furl it entirely in lighter winds) to keep it from blanketing the headsail. From 160 to 180 we sometimes fly our code 0 and our genoa wing-on-wing, which is a surprisingly stable combination.

Thanks. Do you pole them out?

[dougweibel]

Originally Posted by Letterkenny

Thanks. Do you pole them out?

No, but being on a cat we have wide sheeting angles.

As you asked about 'them' (plural) I assume you mean when flying two headsails. If we had a pole we would pole out the genoa on the windward side. That would provide more stability in rolly conditions. Usually we can fly the two pretty reliably up to 160 but if we have a lot of motion in a seaway that is about the edge.