gennaker

[bastonjock]

hi guys

has anyone got a gennaker? i was talking to one guy who claims he achieved 12 knots under wind with a gennaker

[maddmike]

I currently have 2 Gennakers, One is a Cruising Direct 269 sq. ft. kite which attaches to a block at the fractional headstay point (as my mast is 32' this point is 2 ft. above the stock mast position). This is a very consertive downwind sail that uses a snuffer and tack strap around the furled headsail- easily handled in light winds while single-handing. The other Gennaker is 649 sq. ft. (same kite used on a Melges 24), attached at the top of the mast and uses a 'free floating' furler to douse; this one is 'Oh my God, here we go!" and I'm still learning how to control it by myself in anything over 8 kts. of wind. I am also considering building one that is about 1/2 way between these 2 out of light Cuben Fiber (CN9F.5) as an experiment for the Hawaii trip. My mast has two sets of spreaders and running backstays to help accomidate the bigger kite. I do not have, or use a pole on my boat; just to difficult to handle by oneself. I'll be making careful observations of 'actual' boat speeds obtained with these on the Hawaii run and will report back.

MM

MM

[NiceAft]

This is not the sort of post which gains my attention, but since thought I read GINMAKER, well, that's a different story I thought to myself, self (that's what I call myself) , a gin maker is a ballsy idea for a Mac It's a shame the the Mods page is out. What an idea. Good one Jock. I know you just misspelled it.

Ray

[Wind Chime]

We have a Genny and use it alot in the light winds we can get in the Pacific Northwest. (local word is the wind here is either a "Huff or a Puff"

Sometimes the shroud flag will not be moving at all, but the genny will fill and get us moving. Other boats around us with bare poles looking up at thier windex trying to see were we are getting wind from.

Ours is slightly larger than our 150% genoa and very much the shape. It runs on the same rigging as our asym spinnaker. Head to spin halyard at fractional rig point, and tack to tack-line tight at bow, sheets lead in front of the forestay to gybe/tack. (we leave the genoa sheets attached to genoa clew, so they block the fore triangle)

[tangentair]

How is this different than a drifter - maybe in size but still a sail for ultra light winds right?

[mikelinmon]

Hi Madd Mike,
The present mast is 30', where did you get a 32? I have used many diff rigs by adding to the 28' stick MacGregor used to use on his X or earlier boats. He had an insert and it was easy to add length, don't know about the present 30' stick. Don't imagine you will be able to use the taller kite on way to HI.
Mike Inmon

[maddmike]

My mast is a do it yourself Carbon Fiber rig. The stick was cut down from a Henderson 30 mast that was made at Southern Spars that didn't pass Q.C., so I put in the extra manhours in to bring it up to specs., then cut it down to 32'. The S-1 spreaders are a set of Melges 24 spreaders I had laying around (these are 3" shorter than the stock Mac 26X spreaders), the S-2's (believe it or not) actually came off an old Americas' Cup boat from a few seasons back that never got put together or delivered. I simply cut 18" off the ends (of 5' ft. spreader sections!), then bonded and reworked them. As I have said before on a couple of occasions, there are some advantages in having worked on the shop floor in Carbon Fiber Spar and laminate sailmaking shops.

MM

[Wind Chime]

tangentair Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

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How is this different than a drifter - maybe in size but still a sail for ultra light winds right?

[/quote]


Maybe better to let a sail tec explain for all of us ... but for what I know,
yes, very similar sail as a drifter. Lots of variations for light wind headsails.

I think the differences are mostly about sail shape. Different shapes for different applications. The closer you want to sail into the wind the flatter the sail shape needs to be, to give you the airfoil lift that pulls you forward agaisnt the keel resistance (thsi is draft like an airplane wing on its side), the further the wind to aft, the wider and rounder the girth to ballon more.

In general I think most gennakars has a relativly flat luff like a genoa. Some even with hanks on th eluff.

[bastonjock]

theres a big square parachute type sail with a hole in the upper center,it looks awesome,once ive learned enough about asymetrics,i might just have a go with one of those monsters,i intend beefing up the foredeck as part of a mods plan.

i thought that i was going swimming today,i came close to a knockdown,i was motorsailing with full canvas in a wind over tide and waves situation,it was the only way i could get the boat to point in the direction that i wanted,then a roller came through,caught me and it almost went over,i let go the mainsheet and turned towards wind,i had a glance at the inclineometer,it was past 45 deg,it was a nutty day,started with no wind and me wishing for a genny,then it picked up,changed direction and speed a few times,i think its what you yanks would call squalls,anyhow it was a real good learning type sail,played around with the boat and engine,point of sail etc.