Greetings,
While considering the addition of an easy-to-tack headsail for our boat, I had a nice talk with the local North loft mgr yesterday. I admit to being influenced by my short sail on an Alerion 28 last April while at Strictly Sail in SF.
Self-tacking is... Ahhh.... Wonderful.
Having one headsail, a 135%, for our masthead rig boat for the last 9 years, we do tire of winching. Whenever the wind gets over, say, about 12 or 14 knots, we feel that we could get by with a smaller jib.
What I was told is that while the lure of self tacking is seductive, what I would lose is the slot effect that makes the pointing significantly better, even with a small overlap such as with a 105% or a 110%. Proportionate to the whole rig, the larger that the main is, the better one can get by with a self-tacker, was the gist of the advice.
The rig on the O-34 is "ballanced", i.e. the J= 13'3" and the E= 13'6". Our main is a significant part of the driving force, but still much less than on the fractional Ericsons's like the "+" series or the E-33RH.
I know that we have some thoughtful sailors checking in here and a sail builder or two, as well.
Any comment on the 'Save the Endangered Slot' argument?
Class? Bueller? :nerd:
Thanks again,
Loren in PDX
Olson 34 Fresh Air
While considering the addition of an easy-to-tack headsail for our boat, I had a nice talk with the local North loft mgr yesterday. I admit to being influenced by my short sail on an Alerion 28 last April while at Strictly Sail in SF.
Self-tacking is... Ahhh.... Wonderful.
Having one headsail, a 135%, for our masthead rig boat for the last 9 years, we do tire of winching. Whenever the wind gets over, say, about 12 or 14 knots, we feel that we could get by with a smaller jib.
What I was told is that while the lure of self tacking is seductive, what I would lose is the slot effect that makes the pointing significantly better, even with a small overlap such as with a 105% or a 110%. Proportionate to the whole rig, the larger that the main is, the better one can get by with a self-tacker, was the gist of the advice.
The rig on the O-34 is "ballanced", i.e. the J= 13'3" and the E= 13'6". Our main is a significant part of the driving force, but still much less than on the fractional Ericsons's like the "+" series or the E-33RH.
I know that we have some thoughtful sailors checking in here and a sail builder or two, as well.
Any comment on the 'Save the Endangered Slot' argument?
Class? Bueller? :nerd:
Thanks again,
Loren in PDX
Olson 34 Fresh Air