headsail track usage

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I have an Evolution kevlar genoa on Eclipse that is about 5 years old.  We use the track located at the junction of the deck and the base of the cabintop (the silver track with the jib car in the first picture of this discussion thread).  I've actually never tried using the original cabintop track for this sail as I've always felt it'll put the sail at an odd sheeting angle.
Regarding performance, I would say that this Evolution genoa is excellent in light winds.  We are hard to beat.  I do find however that in any sustained winds over 10 knots, we are overpowered and need to contemplate dropping to the lapper, which on my boat is a very old, non-maxi lapper more suited to 16+ knot winds and so when the winds are about 12-14, we suffer badly.

I've had mixed experiences with upwind pointing ability.  I do find it frustrating that because the sail hangs on the spreader, we can't sheet in as far as we'd like and I'm contemplating recutting the sail as per Frank to reduce the leech size to allow it to be trimmed inside the spreader.  According to my instruments, we can typically sail the genoa up to about 32 degrees off the wind, apparent.

That said, I recall one race last year where on an upwind leg we needed to tack away because we were being outpointed by a J35 and she eventually forced us away.  In another race, however, I was able to outpoint an Express 27 and forced her to tack away from me.

It sounds like for other sailors, the genoa is always a sacrifice of pointing ability. My experience has been more mixed, with some days the genoa allowing us to point with the rest of the fleet and other days not so much.  Perhaps the issue lies with me as the helmsman and not the sail!

Edited by Winner - 19 April 2015 at 8:32am

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Winner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 07 September 2011 Status: Offline Points: 223	Post Options Post Reply Quote Winner Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 April 2015 at 8:31am
	I have an Evolution kevlar genoa on Eclipse that is about 5 years old. We use the track located at the junction of the deck and the base of the cabintop (the silver track with the jib car in the first picture of this discussion thread). I've actually never tried using the original cabintop track for this sail as I've always felt it'll put the sail at an odd sheeting angle. Regarding performance, I would say that this Evolution genoa is excellent in light winds. We are hard to beat. I do find however that in any sustained winds over 10 knots, we are overpowered and need to contemplate dropping to the lapper, which on my boat is a very old, non-maxi lapper more suited to 16+ knot winds and so when the winds are about 12-14, we suffer badly. I've had mixed experiences with upwind pointing ability. I do find it frustrating that because the sail hangs on the spreader, we can't sheet in as far as we'd like and I'm contemplating recutting the sail as per Frank to reduce the leech size to allow it to be trimmed inside the spreader. According to my instruments, we can typically sail the genoa up to about 32 degrees off the wind, apparent. That said, I recall one race last year where on an upwind leg we needed to tack away because we were being outpointed by a J35 and she eventually forced us away. In another race, however, I was able to outpoint an Express 27 and forced her to tack away from me. It sounds like for other sailors, the genoa is always a sacrifice of pointing ability. My experience has been more mixed, with some days the genoa allowing us to point with the rest of the fleet and other days not so much. Perhaps the issue lies with me as the helmsman and not the sail! Edited by Winner - 19 April 2015 at 8:32am
	Chris Eclipse #240 Thunder Bay, ON