Quote:
Originally Posted by chubasco
So if I was to use the second track for hoisting a sale while the other one was still up? So that would require a second halyard? Or do you mean just insert the sale into the second slot then you just pull the other sail down and switch to how you're out
|
Generally you cannot switch from one sail to another using a roller furling set-up. The reason being is that the first sail is attached to the top furling swivel and when you try to pull it down the new sail's
head becomes an obstacle for the top swivel.
You could conceivably hoist a second sail in the other groove if you raise the first sail by attaching the halyard directly to the
head of the sail, not to the swivel. It will push the top swivel up but not be connected to it. After a second one is hoisted in the other groove, using a second halyard, drop the first one and the swivel would just stay up there.
This is called a double grooved headsail change. Common for racers (who have no upper or lower swivel) but it's quite a lot of pfaffing around for a cruiser.
It is easier to take the first sail down completely (after it is unfurled) then install the other sail on the
furler.
If you want to have two sails up at once (for going downwind) you could put a second sail up in the other groove, using a second halyard, but you'd have to take it back down before you could do much with it like furl them or drop the first one.
I have to admit that while I have done thousands of headsail changes over the year I don't actually know squat about roller furling.
But sail shape...that I understand. If you "reef" your roller furling genoa to a smaller size by rolling it partially you will certainly have a reduced sail area. Some sails designed for roller furling have foam or other bulky stuff sewn into the luff of the sail which gets rolled up and reduces the bagginess. These
work better. But any sail can be reefed by rolling it. The shape will be very baggy half way up the luff and it won't be very effective going into the wind. Some sails might even be damaged by the stress of sailing partially rolled up.
The best approach if you are going where you might experience higher winds is change from the genoa to a smaller headsail before you even leave the
dock. It's better to be underpowered in the light stuff than over powered in the heavy stuff.
Judy and I don't even put up a large genoa when we are cruising, we use a 85% jib. It's usually enough.