Customer Comments, General Feedback and Sailmaking clips

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Sheeting Angle for Genoas

Center of Effort and Center of Resistance

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Sailcloth Conversions

4.0 US oz   =    170 g/sqm
4.4 US oz   =    210 g/sqm
5.4 US oz   = 240 g/sqm
6.4 US oz   =    270 g/sqm
7.4 US oz   =    310 g/sqm
8.4 US oz   =    340 g/sqm
9.4 US oz   =    380 g/sqm
10.3 US oz =    420 g/sqm

1 oz. American equals 1.26 oz. British and 42.8 grams per square meter.

Spinnaker Cloth Conversions;

1.5 oz U.S. 64 g/sqm
.75 oz U.S. 44 g/sqm

Spinnaker Construction Math;

Symmetrical Spinnaker - I x J x 1.8 x 0.95 = Sail Area
Asymmetrcial Spinnaker - I x J x 1.8 x 0.85 = Sail Area

Calculation for the luff dimension of a spinnaker or an asymmetrical spinnaker:

- Square Root of ("I" square plus "J" square) then times 0.95 = the luff
- Cruising Spinnaker Leech = luff times 0.92
- An A/Spins mid girth always 100% of foot length - Flatter cuts midgirth 90 percent of foot length

Specialty designs no problem.

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Ericson Logo

Columbia 36 Logo

Islander Freeport 36

Islander 36

Islander Freeport 36

Pearson Ariel Logo

Windrose 18 Logo

Storm Sails;

The rules for stormsails are as follows;

Storm Trysail: A short triangular sail that is attached to back of the
mast and is sheeted to the deck. The area of the storm trysail cannot be
more than 0.175(PxE). The ORC states, “It shall be sheeted independently
of the boom and shall have neither a headboard nor battens and be of
suitable strength for the purpose.” If you ever plan to set a storm
trysail, it is best to have a separate track on the mast for the sail.
In a gale, the last thing you want to do is remove the mainsail from the
mast to bend on the storm trysail.

Storm Jib: Its area is limited to five percent of the height of the
foretriangle squared. The rule states that the luff of the storm jib
must be shorter than 65 percent of the height of the foretriangle.

Heavy Weather Jib: Its area is limited to 13.5 percent of the height of
the foretriangle squared. The ORC rules state that this sail cannot have
reef points. If either the storm jib or heavy weather jib are made to
fit a luff-groove device, the sail must have an alternative means of
being attached to the stay. The most common alternative method is to
have grommets along the luff so that you can tie the sail to the stay.

Code 1:
For light air reaching. It is for basically the same conditions as what you now know as a VMG spinnaker, going downwind in conditions light enough that you have to sail tighter apparent wind angles, 60 to 90 degrees apparent.

Code 2:
Medium air running. It is used in the same conditions as a symmetrical AP spinnaker, 90 to 135 degrees apparent, for going downwind from 8 knots to 20 knots.

Code 3:
Medium air reaching spinnaker. Used for reaching in 10 to 20 knots apparent, the wind angle where you can carry it will vary with wind speed but generally between 70 and 110 degrees apparent.

Code 4:
Heavy air runner. Full size, used for running in 20 to 30 knots.

Code 5:
Heavy air reaching for over 20 knots.

Code 6:
Storm runner for over 30 knots.

Code 0:
The Code 0 is a specialty tight reaching sail, and can also double as a heavy air spinnaker. Current rules require the midgirth to be at least 75% of the foot, which is meant to prevent making a 180% genoa and calling it a spinnaker. (On a genoa the midgirth has to be 50% or less of the foot) They are made with the luff as close to straight as possible, and the shape as flat as possible, without having so much roach on the leech that it flaps too much. In light air they can be flown with an apparent wind angle as tight as 40 degrees.

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