Maine Sailing Partners

Code Zeros

Interest in code zero sails has grown steadily since they first appeared in the 1997/98 Whitbread as light air, close reaching sails.  Their relatively flat cross-sections and large overlap make them especially effective from about 45 to 75-degrees apparent wind angle.  No longer considered just a light air sail, a code zero can be used anytime the addition of more horse power can make the boat go faster.  This is a narrow niche for some boats, but there are many boats that can benefit from additional sail area when close reaching.

To prevent sailmakers from building oversized genoas, PHRF considers a code zero a spinnaker so the mid-girth must be at least 75% of the foot.  PHRF also penalizes boats that carry code zero sails - 6 seconds per mile for boats that carry genoas with LPs of less than 130% of J and 3 seconds per mile for 130% or greater.  This pretty much limits the usefulness of code zero sails to long reaching races where the improvement in performance overcomes the penalty.

It's a different story with cruising boats where there are no such restrictions or penalties.  Here we can take advantage of innovations in code zero laminates, continuous line furlers, and anti-torque luff ropes to make sails that don't comply with the racing rules and can't be penalized but are as easy to use as roller furling genoas and very effective windward reachers.

Finally, there is a loop hole if you race a classic yacht in CRF regattas like the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta.  Provided your boat is already rated for a spinnaker, these kinds of sails are treated as a spinnakers no matter what the cut and without penalty provided they aren't set on a permanent stay.  Such a sail could be devastatingly effective anytime it's too tight for a spinnaker but you need more power than you can get from the genoa. 

Keeping it simple

I'm a big fan of simple.  After my last Saab, I swore to my wife that my next car would have vinyl seats and hand crank windows.  Well here's a simple solution that I really like:

We've started using Antal Marine's low friction rings in multiple-purchase leech lines and to turn over-the-top leech lines.  No moving parts and virtually unbreakable, low friction rings are the perfect low weight, high strength solution to almost anywhere we need to turn a line or need an extra purchase.  They come in 10,14, 20, and 28mm internal diameters with safe working loads from 800 to 6400kg.  Low friction rings are ideal for leading genoa furling lines, barber haulers, boom vang and cunningham purchase systems.

Holmenkol

For many years Team McLube's Sailkote has been a favorite lubricant of racing sailors everywhere.  Now German ski wax manufacturer Holmenkol is introducing its own line of marine lubricants and coatings to the U.S. via Contender Sailcloth.  Holmenkol claims that its new products are based on nanotechnology allowing it to create "self organizing, intelligent and ultra-thin coatings."  Holmenkol's coatings resist abrasion, reduce friction, and repel water and dirt.  Whereas Sailkote eventually washes off, Holmenkol can only be removed through abrasion.  If Holmenkol's products really perform as claimed, then they could prove very useful.  Holmenkol treated spinnakers will shed water and easily slide out of hatches and around stays.  Roller furling sails treated with Holmenkol will roll tighter and resist mildew better than sails treated with fungicides or Sailkote that eventually wash out.  Holmenkol can even be used as a polish on boat bottoms to reduce friction and prevent marine growth.

Contender believes that Holmenkol shows so much promise that it is replacing its Dynalite 75 silicone coated spinnaker fabric with a new line of Holmenkol treated Dynalite 75.  Expect this new Dynalite 75 to be out soon.

Contender has promised to send us a Holmenkol sample for our own research.  We'll let you know what we find out.

RollGen

Today we got our first look at the RollGen, a roller furler for asymmetrical spinnakers and gennakers.
The unit consists of a single line drive unit at the bow/sprit connected by a padded, high torsion rope to a swivel at the masthead.  The head of the sail hooks to the swivel and the tack hooks to a pendant that freewheels on the line drive.  Spinning the line drive rolls the rope which turns the swivel which rolls up the spinnaker starting at the head.  Here are some shots of the unit in action on a J/100:

Used Sails

A customer has recent North Marathon 3DL main and 120% genoa for a J/110 available for immediate sale at very reasonable prices.  Customer has new MSP Pentex sails for local daysailing and racing.  The new sails are lighter and help him qualify for a PHRF handicap credit.  Contact us if you're interested...