April 9, 2009

A recent exchange of emails with Halsey McGowan (Elizabeth) on location of jib sheet leads and jib/genoa track resulted in this contribution to our technical library. If and when we get input from others we will put it up here.

Marionette sails with 4 jibs - a light #3, 170% genoa; a heavier #2 140% genoa – a real workhorse; a small working jib – practically useless when trying to point but nice close reaching; and a heavy blade sail used in a strong breeze.

This is Marionette's # 2 genoa, racing short handed. Racing short handed presents different sail selection choices. This 140% sail is a good all around compromise.	This is Marionette's blade, close reaching in a breeze. This sail was an Atlantic jib, a heavy cloth sail with short battens that is 7/8 hoist on the forestay, sheets inside the shrouds and tacks without touching the front of the mast or the top of the cabin. This sail is so stiff it cannot be bagged - it is rolled ( a hassle)

The following pictures are of the bronze T tracks. I use Garhauer SS ball bearing snap shackle blocks with shock cord tails and plastic clip hooks I clip to the life line - not shown.

This length track works fine for our 140% and 170% jibs sheeted in hard outside the shrouds going up wind. It would be better if this track were moved forward a foot, or extended forward at least a foot, maybe even all the way to the shroud. Reason, when the 140 is eased you want to move the lead forward to get a better trim, and more forward the more you reach. I have a couple of track slide padeyes on each side.

If this track were longer and reached all the way to the shroud when broad reaching or running, you can use the vang as a preventer by bringing the mast end vang shackle down to a padeye on the track - and you can adjust where you want that lead. What I do now for this is I tie a short rope loop through the bottom of the shroud turnbuckle and rig the Vang's snap shackle to it. I also use this loop to shackle my spinnaker twing lines.

One issue is bending a long Bronze T-track. Another is the cost - long bronze T track is expensive. Check out the used marine parts stores.

The inboard track made a big difference in our ability to point with the blade sail. For reaching I can sheet the sail back to the outboard track and run a short line from the inboard track to the clew as a barber hauler. Not perfect but not bad.

I'll have to remember to take pictures of my set ups in actual use. Some of this depends on your particular sails, ie a high or low clue. It is good to have a system that can adapt to just about any trimming needs.

***************************