Forums, Mast, Rigging and Sails, newbie rigging question..

marisco at 22/05/2016 17:16:41
Ive just bought a 1977 boat – Contessa of Wight – love it !

May I clarify as a newbie how the sails are configured ?

I have a large genoa on a roller fuller. If I need a smaller jib or storm jib, is this usually hanked onto a second forestay ? And if so, I can see two possible deck attachment points, one foreward and one aft of the anchor locker. Which one to use ? Also, there is a wire cable which comes to the bottom of the mast which I assume to be a second forestay, which has a Highfield lever at the bottom end – is this usual ? If so, it is too short to connect to the deck padeyes – would need an intervening strop – again is this standard ?

Secondly, I would like to use a code zero on a torsion rope/Karver furler as my only downwind sail, for ease of use. Do other owners have this or is the additional area over a genoa not worth the effort ? And if a code zero is useful, where does in attach to the deck end, in the absence of a bowsprit (it looks like the it would get caught up a bit on the pulpit) ?

Many thanks, sorry for so many questions !

Paul

George Isted at 23/05/2016 12:49:05
Hi Paul and congratulations.

If you have a furling system (as almost all contessa32’s do) you have two options if you want a smaller dedicated heavy-weather foresail. Either lower the genoa and put a smaller sail on the furler (fine if you can plan ahead and swap in harbour) or you fit an inner-forestay and hank on jib. It sounds like the boat already has this second option (the wire with the highfield lever). Obviously, you can also use a part-furled genoa.

The inner-forestay is attached either forward or aft of the anchor locker, there will likely be a smallish (3-4mm dia) Ubolt aft of the anchor locker for the jackstays and spinnaker pole downhaul, this is not strong enough (unless it has been replaced) for an inner stay. I expect, if you have another U-bolt forward of the anchor locker that will be for the inner stay. Stick your head in the anchor locker and see how it’s fitted.

It’s likely that there is a small strop that goes between the highfield lever and the Ubolt – this is so that the Highfield lever and inner stay are the correct length to clip on elsewhere (near the shrouds?) when not in use. Probably came with the boat – just a matter of finding it.

Re Code Zero (or A0) I have one, new this season and still learning how to get the most out of it. Mine is not on a furler, partly due to cost. Due to the shape of the pulpit I run the Dyneema tack line through the end of the pole and use the spinnaker guy (and jockey pole) to centralise the A0 tacking point. This was all worked out with help from Peter Sanders so he is a good place to start.

The down-side of the way I have the A0 rigged it that I can’t gybe it easily but I don’t envisage needing to do this as it’s more of a passage-race sail when the apparent wind is 50-85. The positive is that by using a pole, if the wind moves aft it can be flown off the pole with the tack higher and further aft – works quite well but not as quick as a Symetric kite.

Hope this helps, if you email me I can send you some pics.

George Isted at 23/05/2016 12:50:53
P.S. I should say that for class one-design racing only Symmetric kites are allowed, I have a Laminate A0 for IRC racing only, it’s my third spinnaker so no rating hit.

P.P.S. Having reread your question about a code-zero, it’s possibly not the right sail for you as it’s not really a down-wind sail even though it rates as a spinnaker. If the boat is set up for a standard Symmetric kite I would stick with it as the deeper you sail the more efficient it will be compared to an A-sail.
Edited: George Isted on 2016-05-23 14:06:36

marisco at 23/05/2016 18:25:30
Many thanks for your excellent advice George.

Victoria808 at 26/11/2018 13:57:03
Hi George (or any other forum reader)
I’m looking to replace my sails with a local, very good sailmaker. Do you have the dimensions for all the sails please. I looked at the ‘technical drawings’ page but this part of the figure had faded.
Would be very grateful.
Cheers

moongirl at 26/11/2018 18:16:09
The Sail Rules are on the Class Website I believe under Racing.

Victoria808 at 27/11/2018 08:55:54
thanks for that colin – i found the main sail dimensions which is very helpful but the genoa dimension was listed as a sail area, not leech luff foot etc.
I’ll keep looking
Thanks
Jeremy

George Isted at 27/11/2018 11:57:15
Hi Jeremy,
There are no set dimensions that we can share with you as your sailmaker should come and take measurements of your particular boat and discuss your requirements. For example somone who just races may want a genoa that has a low clew but allways needs skirting after each tack while a cruiser may want better visibility afforded by a higher clew (with the benefit of less skirting over the guardrail).

All boats will be very slightly different as there are a number of different furling systems around and different mast manufacturers. That said all class legal boats have to have a mast that fits the specification in the rules/plans and the measurement black bands.

In the racing rules we have set a max size for each racing sail carried but no minimum size.

Mainsails are generally all about the same size and max dimensions are given in the racing rules, the same applies to Spinnakers.

I hope this helps shed some light for you.

All the best

George

Victoria808 at 27/11/2018 13:08:01
yes thankyou that is very helpful