Downwind Sail for Ocean Race

[sailah]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

A lot of these used sails have sail numbers on them.


What can you do about that? I guess you have to sew a panel over them? Seems like a PITA.

On spinnakers I have, they are simply adhesive ripstop and you can peel them off. Will certainly leave a residue with number outlines. I just paste my numbers over that and that's good enough for my used sails and race committees to verify.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by sailah

How about this one? I've bought sails from these guys before, they usually take an aggressive best offer and I think their condition guide is fairly accurate.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Asymmetrica...kAAOSwHOFeXEKL

Little smaller, but new

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Asymmetric-...gAAOSwU0tdg7xx

So I'm inclined to go with the first one of these, which is a North sail and at an outstanding price.


It's a bit bigger which is good from a horsepower point of view -- I am specifically concerned about light winds.



It's supposed to be from a Swan 42, but what Swan 42 has a 70' forestay??


The luff of this is right at two feet less than my forestay length, so it's probably not going to complete clear my bow pulpit -- is that a problem? If a little bit hangs over?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The luff of this is right at two feet less than my forestay length, so it's probably not going to complete clear my bow pulpit -- is that a problem? If a little bit hangs over?

Two thoughts...

I wonder if that luff measurement was “straight”, in which case once it is flying the curve will help.

Second, I fly mine outside the pulpit. Is this possible on your boat?

[GILow]

Third thought...

That used sail looks a lot like my previous asym, just before it started popping seams, left, right and centre.

[GILow]

Fourth thought...

The dousing socks are horribly expensive. I was quoted AU$900 so I’ve reused my old one.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by GILow

Two thoughts...

I wonder if that luff measurement was “straight”, in which case once it is flying the curve will help.

Second, I fly mine outside the pulpit. Is this possible on your boat?

On the first point -- yeah, I've now found some sizing guides which recommend that the assy luff should be a little longer than the forestay. You're right.


Outside the pulpit? How would you do that without a sprit?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by GILow

Third thought...

That used sail looks a lot like my previous asym, just before it started popping seams, left, right and centre.

Thanks. Maybe I need a newer one. There's a quite new one in the UK for about £2000, which is no longer $3000. And my sailmaker offers to make me one in time for £3300, but that's without launching bag or sock. Hmmmm.

Originally Posted by GILow

Fourth thought...

The dousing socks are horribly expensive. I was quoted AU$900 so I’ve reused my old one.

Yeah, the ATN ones are shockingly expensive.

[MartinR]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I found a lightly used triradial symmetrical spinnaker with luff length almost the same as my "I" dimension -- 69' or 21 meters. 1738 square feet or 161m2. 1.5oz nylon.

That seems to be about perfect I would not worry too much about handling. Hoist it stropped and take it down in the lee of the main. Once it is up, the size matters very little.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by MartinR

. Once it is up, the size matters very little.

I hear that a lot.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Outside the pulpit? How would you do that without a sprit?

Well, my pulpit is a bit odd, it is split in two down the middle, but that doesn't matter much as I just clip the foot line onto the bow roller

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by GILow

I hear that a lot.

Must be comforting!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by GILow

Well, my pulpit is a bit odd, it is split in two down the middle, but that doesn't matter much as I just clip the foot line onto the bow roller

Any photos of how you have that rigged?

[slug]

Pulpit for downwind sails

[slug]

Tack strop for code sail

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Any photos of how you have that rigged?

You’ll have to kind of fill in the gaps from the following photos, but note the small tear in the old yellow and white Asym. That was the beginning of a whole lot more, all over the sail.