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QRACING

Carbon versus Aramid, how to size a number two genoa, spinnaker inventories, materials for asymmetricals, etc. The place to get your questions on racing sails answered from some of the top names in the business.

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Q: Hi there, my question is a little out of the ordinary. I have a debate on with a collegue as to the temperatures reached in some areas of racing sails. I remeber watching a documentary on sail maunfacture and there were some amazing figures of temperatures reached on certain areas of a sail and hence the need for super materilas. Could you give me an idea of the differnt temperatures reached on racing sails on big boats? Regards Andrew

Q: I have a Kirby 36; she' a frac with a big main and small foretriangle. I=42.5 ft and the J=12.5 (P=48.75 E=17.5 ) I usually rig up with some rake...about 15 inches to the gooseneck. My question is what is the optimal clew height for a 155% racing Genoa ? Can you express this to me in leech length for my rig ? I assume there is a standard formula to calculate this and then you tweek it abit for a specific boat or customer. Also what sheeting angle for light and medium strength wind conditions should I be looking at (yes I know about in-hauling) ? I'm refinishing my deck and want to plan ahead for a new genoa when I'm laying the tracks back down. Thanks! Dave

Q: I have new quantum sails last year and I would like to know what to look for when I ajust the battan tention on the main sail. I have a full battan at the top and I can get good shape in light air on starboard but can't get it to change to port nomatter what I do. tight or lose. what do I look for? thanks Dale in colorado.

Q: What are your recommendations for a 3 spinnaker inventory for a Farr 37. Werace in the Great Lakes in primarily less than 15 knots of wind. Racesinclude windward / leeward and point-to-point. I presently have an Airex600N symetrical, and a Airex 700N assymetrical, Code 3. What would be thepreferred third cute?

Q: If a yacht (or in this case a landyacht) is travelling faster than the windwould an asymetrical spinnaker still be of any use for gaining speed?

Q: I4d like to know how to trim a code 0

Q: I'm buying a new 36.7 - I've been advised by another 36.7 owner that IF hehad the chance to do it all over again, he would buy a carbon fiber racingmain for the boat, as opposed to kevlar. First, would this type of sail beclass legal, and second, would it offer a significant enough racingadvantage - what would those advantages be?Lastly, I'm interested in knowing about the downsides of owning a carbonfiber racing main - I'm looking to put together a great race boat, but willalso be cruising as well - will the sail be harder to handle? Is it alighter material? What about UV damage over time when compared to kevlar?Thanks in advance,Chris

Q: I race on a family owned J35c. This boat is raced on lake erie, and needsnew racing sails. Do any 3DLowners know about how much a 3DL Geneoa andMain would cost for a 35 foot J boat?

Q: I am the owner of a Tanzer 25 with its original 1987 sails (very worn).Recently, I've started racing it on and off (most recent experience beingthe Chesapeake Governor's Cup). I also sail the boat casually several timesa week. When choosing new sails, what type should I choose...racing orcruising sails? Also, how much of a performance increase should I expect?jk

Q: Do you have a tuning guide for the Tripp33? Would you recommend taking a 3-6sec. phrf hit and going to a masthead spin. The boat really feelsunderpowered downwind. What do you recommend for mainsail material on theTripp. I am interested in a new main and spinnaker.

Q: Would like to have the tuning guide for my beneteau 35s5, I have the guidefor 36.7 but I feel not accurate for my boat, if you dont have it could youplease direct me to someone that doesany suggestion are appreciatedThanks

Q: How do i find a contact address and brochure out of this web site..?Peter BirdDesignByBIRD : 181 Princess Drive, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 2QT. England,UK.

Q: two foresails can have the same LP but significantly different total sailarea depending on clew height. How does high clew height/lower sail areaeffect a sails performance versus low clew height/high sail area?

Q: is a optimist toni tio cross-cut sail better than a toni tio radial sail?

Q: Gentlemen; I have raced PHRF for the last 10 years in a Beneteau First 42and have recently purchased a 1D35. I am interested in learning more aboutyour Cuban Fibre racing sails. Your web site had some interesting commentsconcerning weight and strength but nothing about the sail shape constructionprocess. Can you enlighten me as to how your racing sails are constructedwhen using this cloth, and obviously without divulging any trade secrets?Also pricing, is this fabric more expensive? And finally, your web siteshows a 1D35 tuning guide but it will not let me access the information?Thank you. Cheers, Ron Coalson

Q: I have a brand new airx 650 spinnaker for my J22 that got a six inchl-shaped tear in it because of poor handling by an inexperienced crewmember. Can it be fixed easily, if so how. I'm a little devastated in thatit has only been out twice.

Q: Hello;It seems all the sails used in the Americas Cup are North Sails. Your sailsseem very competitive, is there a reason why you dont make AC sails...itsounds like this Cuban fiber would be great, and since it was used beforesuccessfully, why has it not been utilized? Does North use this material?Just curious. I am hoping to get back into racing and am interested in 3dlor other equvialents for my older IOR boat.

Q: How long would Cuban Fiber sails last on a J 105?Thanks.

Q: DO CODE ZERO SAILS COME IN SYMETRICAL SIZES. THE REASON I ASK IS THAT MOSTPHRF COMMITTEES PENALIZE SYMETRICAL INVENTORYIED BOATS IF THEY US AN ASYMCODE ZERO. THUS DENIING USE OF A CODE ZERO WITHOUT A STIFF PENALTY.