Downwind sail advice

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Ray Taylor
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Downwind sail advice

We’re in the process of replacing sails on our boat.   The main & headsail are figured out, and I’m working on a downwind sail.   Our last boat used a Gennaker in a sock, it was reasonably handy and performed well.  The downside is that it was difficult for my wife and I to jibe and since we live on a river we tack and jibe a lot.    

I’m considering a cruising version of a Code 0 on a furler.   I think this will meet our needs.

Has anyone mounted a Code 0 type sail on their 36?   The luff tension is greater than our Gennaker or Asem and I’m concerned about a method to support the tack.  

Thank you,

Ray

Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM
 

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ludo
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What did you decide to do? did you install a code 0 with a furler and bowsprit & bowstay?

Best Regards,
Ludo

Ludovic François
​Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA

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Ray Taylor
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Posts: 81

Ludo,
As much as I'd like it, I haven't found a good way to install a Code 0 or Code C.   The deck mounted extending pole and fixed bow sprit both block (or at least impact) anchor deployment with is important in my sailing area.      I'm considering some other ideas options, but nothing yet.    
Ray

Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM
 

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EUREKA
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Posts: 115

Hi Ray,

Have a look to bowsprit https://trogear.com/ it might solve your concerns. We do sail with a A0/3 (close to Code 0, but with a wider angles use)
personally, I will not consider a Code 0 a downwind sail. In our boats with a 150 genoa is bigger enough as head sail in the breeze (if you do not race) I will go for a more versatile downwind Like an A1.
I manufacture myself, a small carbon bowsprit and works lovely, we added a Bob-stay.
Just a thought

Eladio Vallina

C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).

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Ray Taylor
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Posts: 81

Eladio

Your set up looks great and I appreciate the information.   I’m impresssed that you fabricated it yourself.     You are very tallented.

I also agree that the code zero, code C, or any of the simiar type sails are not down wind sails.  

 

I stated before that our goal was to set up a down wind sail but our new (maybe better thought out) goal is to set up a sail plan allowing us to sail in more variable conditions.   We are located on the Columbia River, but also sail on the Washington/Oregon coasts.   Our home waters are the Columbia Gorge where the coastal air is funneled through a narrow section of the river creating consistent and strong summer winds.   

The current sail inventory is a new 95% rf headsail, original 130 rf headsail, and new main with deep reef points.  

 

Downwind we’re good poling out the headsail running wing on wing.  I now believe the sail we’re looking for allows us to lighter wind sail from 60 deg thru 135 deg.      So I believe the Code type sails would meet our needs.   

 

The problem we are having is that we need to keep the anchor ready for use.   Since we sail on a river, we deal with current.  If you develop engine problems in light wind the anchor quickly becomes a safety devise.  

 

On our last boat we used a flater cut crusing Gennaker that worked pretty well and it may be what we do with this boat, but I was looking for something more user friendly.

 

Thank you again,

Ray

 

 

Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM
 

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EUREKA
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Posts: 115

Ray,

I understand your concerns of having de anchor ready for use. We have a spare one in the after locker ready for use and the carbon bowsprit is so light that can be removed in seconds.

honestly I do not think, specially in light conditions that a Code 0 (laminated cloth) will work from 60-135 TWA. My thought is that a A1 will perform much better on the conditions you are looking for.  We sail our A1 from 70-130 TWA, discuss with your sailmaker, I'm sure he will give you the best advice for what you are looking for.

A modification you can do, instead of a bowsprit, is to weld the arch on the anchor soport, in a fix position so the pulpit is free (sorry for my English) and use it to attach the tack. I have use this arch long time an it works! You can even weld a longer arch to attach the tack, it is simple and cheap an it works!

Hope it helps.  Attached picture of our A0/3 around 60sqm, good enough to sail up wind (60 TWA) and downwind (130/) we mainly use it as heavy spi.

Fair winds!

Eladio Vallina

C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).

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Ray Taylor
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Posts: 81

Thank you for the information.   I'll work with our sailmakeer a little more and see what we come up.  Thank you for taking the time to repsond to this, you've given us several different options. 
Best regards,
Ray

Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM
 

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