Can anyone tell me about my head sail?

[sunshinecoasting]

Hi All, I'm still very new to this game and only just got my first yacht (ex stink boater), having readied her for my first sail this weekend I am confused as to what my headsail actually is, one thing I do know is that it is terribly worn and wont last long so I will need to replace it soon, the leech has a 6" tear about half way up from the lines seperating the reinforced edge from the sail cloth and the cloth area from the leech back about 18" is thin and worn, how long do you reckon it will last in say 10 knot winds?

I dont have exact specs so here's my best description, it is on a CDI furler so it is a RF Gen or RF Jib, when completely unfurled the tack just about reaches the mast but not quite, I dont know what specifies a Gen form a Jib other than the Gen is bigger and generally overlaps the main, any remarks here welcomed.

The next issue is which travellers to use, my boat has travellers on the cabin and along the side of the cockpit, the cabin travellers have a dark spot where the car has been for many years but when I clip it in that position it seems way to close to the sail to be functional, I have clipped it to frontmost setting of the rear travellers for the moment and unfurled it in a light breeze while on the trailer and it seems to set very well in this position, any suggestions on where it should be?

I am confident it will all come together once on the water but some pre launch advice is welcomed. Cheers, Dennis.

[robbarnes1965]

You may be able to prolong the use of your sail with a little stitching and tape. Give the links below a look.

Regarding the head sail type: If the clew goes just to the mast it's a jib. Much more and it's a genoa. The numbers represent the overlap of the forward triangle if I am not mistaken. A head sail that gets much bigger than 110% of the triangle that comprises the mast, forestay and deck is generally a genoa. Variations exist like drifter which I understand to be very light cloth genoas and tiny little storm jibs that are much smaller than that fore-triangle.

If it's a jib, use the tracks on the cabin and keep the sheets inside the shrouds. If it's a genoa, use the cockpit tracks and bring the sheets around the outside of the shrouds.


http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/sailrite/index.html
http://www.amazon.com/Speedy-Stitcher-1 ... B000FXT814

[Catigale]

It sounds like a RF standard jib, Dennis. You should tape those tears before sailing it as they will get worse very quickly

UV damage really isn't repairable and sails for this boat are so reasonably priced new are probably the best option.

Any Mac dealer cn supply the stock sails, and JudyB on this Board supports and sells Hyde sails for the Mac