Genoa performance

[nemo]

Delevi,
Tell us more about these "runners" please. What kind of line and where are you attaching (from where to where). I'm curious. thanks,

[delevi]

Fairly simple mod. I have two lines tied to the forestay/upper shroud hound running port and starboard. I used high strength 1/4" line but thicker line can work just as well. Lines run aft inside the spreaders towards teh genoa tracks. They terminate approx 2 feet above the genoa tracks to bowlines tied to snap shackles. On the genoa tracks, I attached two track mounted eyes, one on each side on the aft-most holes. Same hardware as the genoa cars, except instead of the cars, you have a steel loop. They are easily removed. To each of the eyes I shackled a 4:1 block & tackle with jam cleats built into one of the blocks (harken mini fiddle blocks w/ v-jam, available at WM.) Runners are engaged one at a time, on the windward side only. The leeward runner is the lazy runner and must be detached and out of the way so the boom & mainsail don't push up against it. I have mini blocks with a circular (clothesline type) arrangement running between the stanchions from the cockpit to the mast. There is an O-ring on that line. I clip the snap shackle of the lazy runner to the o-ring and run the line forward towards the mast so it's compltely out fo the way. After a tack, I can then pull it back to re-engage. The windward runner is clipped to the block & tackle and put under heavy load. Primarily, this is used for upwind sailing to take slack out of the headstay, but is also good rig insurance when sailing without main or under spinnaker. The one drawback is you have to remember to release and disconnect the runner before you tack, and then engage the other runner on opposite tack. I have forgotten a few times. So far, I've been fortunate, but it could be trouble. If this makes no sense, let me know and I can take some pix next chance I have.

Leon

[nemo]

Leon,
Thanks much for the description, very creative. I can picture your runners - wow, so all this to tighten up the forestay, or luff, of the genny and as a side benefit ease the stress on the mast, not having a backstay when flying with genny alone..

So does she sail well like this? (without main I mean) I guess so since you're doing it. I hope it's worth the hassle. Seems like a lot of work to rig up those runners.

I think I'll first just try attaching the main halyard to boom end, and crank down the main sheet to give the shrouds a bit of help when sailing w/o the main. I could even put the main traveler over to the windward side.

!	Frank C:
	nemo -- I guess you have a 26M, but it's not always clear just from context. If you click the Profile button (left-center under the Ad banner, top of each page), you can add your boat year and model info -- into your "location field," just after Aloha, Oregon.

[nemo]

FrankC, Profile update done. I had it under "interests", but now see that doesn't show up by default. Thanks for the tip -

[delevi]

Nemo,

Runners are certainly a bit of a PITA. I would not rig them just to sail w/o main. Their real job is to flatten the forestay when sailing on a beat to improve pointing, which they do.. approx 5 degrees higher pointing in windy conditions. I rarely sail without the main. The scenario I described was when I first go tthe genoa and wanted to test it out. It was very windy and I didn't want to have a partially furled sail for testing purposes so I went under genny w/o main. The only other scenario I would sail w/o the mainsail is on a broad reach or run in big waves. The mac doesn't do well in such conditions with the mainsail up, even reefed. Better with the DB pulled up 3/4 but if it's really rough, I drop the main and just ride the headsail. Suppose in those conditions, the runners do add peace of mind. Back to pointing... I'm estimating about 41 degrees to the true wind. I have the autotack setting on my autopilot set to 82 degrees and it tacks through nicely. Not sure how much of that can be attributed to the runners vs the Quantum sails, weighted keel & IDA rudders. Probably more the later, since the runner must be released before a tack.

fair winds,
Leon

[nemo]

This has been very informative - thanks.

The problem I'm looking for the best solution to is sailing up river (in the Columbia) when the wind is quite often heading parallel to and up river, so I'm running with the wind at <10 kts. I currently have a jib 100 on furler and have been debating between a genoa 150 that I would run wing-&-wing, preferably with whisker pole, and with a preventer on the boom. Or I could go with the spinaker.

I like the idea of the genoa 150 best as it's more versatile (and easy, on furler), and will help in the often light winds.