headsail track usage

OK this is probably a total newbie question but I don't see a specific thread on this so maybe useful for other newbies as they arrive.

I'm wondering which cabin top tracks everyone uses for their headsails?  I've no idea if my tracks are factory or if some have been installed afterwards.  I have two on the deck aft of the shroud with one more to the inside than the other.  I also have one on the cabin top just above the window and another on the downward sloping part of the cabin top forward of the mast.

I've done some experimentation and found that when sailing close hauled under my genoa 155, switching to the innermost track on the deck gave us an immediate 0.5 knot speed increase.  However I've done no experimentation at all with other sails, especially the lapper.

I've attached a photo of my deck layout which hopefully uploads correctly.

If anyone has any lapper or genoa tips, please post :-)

where is this lower track you speak of? you lost me. js

screw pins or spring pins?
i would guess someone set them into a screw-head 'hole' and not a real fair-lead hole. they should not pop loose. js

Chris,
The track that your sheets are on in the photo should be good for your no.1. Secondly, don't blow out your lapper if blowing 26 knots. Those conditions are for the working jib which we refer to as the #4. On your forward track make sure your pin is really set in the hole. Sometimes crew slide them toward the hole and think it is in the hole when the car stops. However the pin may have just slid into a screw recess which won't hold the car. This is a common mistake with crew who are unfamiliar with the boat.

Frank

Frank/Bill: yes indeed the inside track is better for the genoa.  I experimented with that a few weeks ago and using the inside track gave us an instant 0.5 kt speed increase!

Bill L: The pins don't look worn out to me but I'll inspect everything more closely.  Some of my tracks have guards at one end to prevent the block from sliding off but the forward one does not.  I assume this was for ease of block setting as I only have one set of fairleads for the whole boat.  I'm considering buying more but they're a bit pricey.  Having said that one of my crew told me that the block was actually flying off the front of the track, not the back which I find hard to believe but I can't verify this either way - I was too busy steering  ;-)

Frank: My sail inventory may need some tweaking.  I have the following:

1) 155% Neil Pryde genoa
2) 109% North sails lapper (2 of them almost identical size)
3) 103% North sails jib (same sail shape as above but smaller because luff is 40 inches less)
4) storm jib

So I'm not sure how this fits in terms of #1, #2, #3 and #4 as you described above Frank.

Bill B: Sadly, my boat does not appear to be rigged for barber haulers.  I'd appreciate any suggestions as to what I need to do for this.  I know the theory behind their use but have never actually used one before.

OK so I checked and my fairlead block is made by Viadana.

http://www.sailormall.net/hardcote-anodised-aluminium-genoa-sheet-slide-max-rope-diam14-mm-code-viadana-2321-022197

So Bill I need to buy Schaffer fairlead block?  Any specific one you recommend?

Thanks Bill I'll do some checking as to what's on my boat now.

The fwd track is for both working-Jib and the lapper. The aft upper track is for north genoas and the lower aft track is for all other makes of genoa. The pic above of Chris's boat #240 shows the correct location for the lower track (the silver track) 

By "keep them" I mean attached to the boat.