Bottom line with sails these days is crew. How many and how often. Getting harder and harder (So I hear) to find consistent good crew. When I raced with 4 headsails, 3 spinnakers etc. I had 8 on board my 40-2. Son moved on in life and the adult day camp program ceased. When I do race now its short-handed or solo. Even a tacking a 135% roller is "fun" in our Buzzards Bay smokin' SWers when alone or with one. Now that we can get a rating bump for a 125% will reduce the headsail to the 125%. And I muuch prefer the minimal logistics and the solitude/focused conversation with the less is more crew configuration.
-----Original Message----- From: Robert Abbott via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 4:42 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Robert Abbott <robertabb...@eastlink.ca> Subject: Stus-List New sails, new wind Interesting discussion on sail selection. And that is a broad subject. What kind of racing? While I have retired from racing, I clearly remember racing with a sail inventory....4 head sails (150% light and heavy air...#1, 135%...#2, and a 100%..#3), 2 spinnakers (systematical 3/4 oz. and a 1/2 oz.). Many races we (I as the foredeck person) was changing head sails to suit changes conditions. We sometimes did a spinnaker peel (something we practiced). The main stayed full until we had to go down to the #3. Much of this racing was on a C&C 33 MKII and a C&C 34R. Where I sail here in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, there is no one sail that works best for any given race day. I am now a reacher, not a racer, but I still know the difference in sail selection for the conditions. I now sail much of the season with a furled 135%...it is my go to sail...many days my 100% blade is the sail to have...one day last year, a fellow lister here that we raced a lot together, was coming with me for an afternoon sail and he said "it is going to be a light air day, bring your 155% light air Kevlar today.... I did we dropped the 135% and hoisted the 155% and it was the right sail for the day. The next day, no way could I hoist the 155%. One head sail for racing is something I have no knowledge and/or experience in and therefore have no relevant or helpful advice. If you wish to race with only one head sail, and your prevailing wind is around 10 knots true, my best guess would be a 135%. Robert Abbott AZURA C&C 32 - #277 Halifax, N.S. Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.me%2Fstumurray&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cadc793e63f114b78569608d8cd438339%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637485037132009482%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=rxnSNsd1bq23mCioj%2BXYMJcUKRG2qDTHl4t%2FxffYhAQ%3D&reserved=0 Thanks - Stu Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
