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November
1, 2007 submitted by Al Molloy |
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I've
raced my Ranger 22 on western Lake Ontario for 25 years, and always
used North sails. This year I added a 3DL genoa and main. They're
great sails, helped us sweep every series this year. Some of the
open footed mains I've seen recently seem to have a very large amount
of material hanging down along the foot. I guess the idea there
is that it adds sail area downwind without incurring a PHRF penalty.
Could you advise as to whether this modification could be made to
my 3DL main and whether it would be PHRF legal?
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October
6, 2007 submitted by Gary Klouda
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I
am purchasing a high performance regatta/cruiser- Dehler 44 for
Baltic and Med cruising. Would the addition of the Dutchman Flaking
system have any adverse affect on the performance of the Spectra
mainsail? |
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September
24, 2007 submitted by Christoph
Tröndle |
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I
just yesterday bought an only in 2007 used XM-2-mainsail fro my
X-99. Now I have to change the sailnumbers to our number 337. Could
you give me a tip, how the old numbers can be removed without having
old glue on the sail and without destroying the sailcloth?
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September
20, 2007 submitted by Bill Guage |
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I
have a 1977 28-foot Pearson. I would like to mount a fairlead for
the main halyard and a rope clutch and winch on the cabin so I can
handle the lines from the cockpit. Additionally I would like to
have my sail modified for the Dutchman flaking system. Can you assist
me with these modifications?
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August
30, 2007 submitted by Steve Sugden
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My
first mate and I are going to cruise the tropics and the builder
wants to supply cruise laminates, not Dacron sails. I here a lot
of talk about laminate shrinking and delaminating in the heat very
quickly. The builder still insists that they would last 10 yrs.
What are your thoughts on this kind talk? I am looking for impartial
point of view.
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August
29, 2007 submitted by Jack Montani
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I
just received my G2 Gennaker for my Catalina 36MKII. We are having
a great time with this addition to the boat. The sail is very easy
to use and douse with the sock. How do I know that I have the proper
tack height setting? |
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August
27, 2007 submitted by Tom Delaney |
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I
have a cutter rigged Tayana 55 with a 110 Genoa on a Profurl 52
and a staysail on a Profurl 42. Obviously it is difficult to tack
the Genoa, so I’d like to get rid of the staysail and free
up the fore triangle, but hesitate to do it since I need the staysail
when the wind pressure is up. Do you recommend the Profurl EC system?
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August
26, 2007 submitted by Chuck Motson
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I
own a 38' racing cruiser which carries a huge amount of sail. If
I were to buy only one new headsail what should it be? A new genoa,
Gennaker or a true downwind sail?
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August
18, 2007 submitted by John Perreault
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I
recently experienced lackluster performance during a race, attempting
to run downwind with an asymmetrical spinny that was cut from an
older symmetrical against a boat with 2 headsails wing and wing.
I was unable to keep any trim DDW, so as I reached at some reasonable
speed, I of course was late at the mark. What other sail configuration
would allow me to perform DDW?
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July
15, 2007 submitted by Nick Vicars-Harris
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I
own a Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 and the boat came with a full height
spinnaker. I would like to know if this is something I can have
converted to an asymmetric spinnaker so I can fly this without a
pole – is that possible and is this a service you can do up
here in Seattle? |
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July
14, 2007 submitted by Hermann
Kasper |
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My
wife and I own a small 2005 18' Catalina MK II with a 100% rollerfurling
jib. We do mainly daysailing and some racing with other members
in our Yacht Club. I would like to improve lightwind/offwind performance,
possibly with a Gennaker + snuffer or would you recommend a larger
Genoa? |
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June
14, 2007 submitted by Carol Rice
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Hi
- You used to have helpful videos on sail trim. I cannot find them
on your site anymore - any clues or have you discontinued them? |
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May 30, 2007 submitted by Joe
Braden |
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For
long runs on the Chesapeake Bay, I have considered flying my North
gennaker in wind under 10 apparent without the main and using a
light whisker pole support by pole lift. I have installed an adjustable
tack controlled from the cockpit. Do you think this will work? |
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May
13, 2007 submitted by Henry Gattone
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I
recently purchased a 1989 Pearson 27. It has a wheel that is not
easy to get around quickly. I am a senior citizen that wiil do quite
a bit of solo sailing, and will be replacing the furling jib. Is
a 130% genoa with a cruising cut (higher clew) a good choice for
an all around headsail? |
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April
30, 2007 submitted by Jerry Clifton |
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Have
a Gulf 32 full keel with a 140 gennie here in San Diego. Planning
trip north to San Francisco and then on up to the San Juan islands.
Present sails are origional (17 Years old) and have concerns about
the size of the roller furled headsail and age of the main. Thinking
smaller headsail would be better since single handed. Any suggestion? |
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April
28, 2007 submitted by Jon Lang
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Would
a paneled Dacron racing sail be a high performance option for a
cruising mainsail? |
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April
16, 2007 submitted by Wendy Johnson
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We just
purchased a 46’ Moody with in boom furling mainsail. Unfortunately
the mainsail and the jib are severely discolored – they are
North Sail laminated sails. The glue has turned pink and there is
mold in between the laminates. Is there anyway to clean up the sails? |
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April
11, 2007 submitted by Mike Hedge |
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I have
a 2002 Hunter 386 with a 130% furling jib. I'd like more oomph. Should
I add a larger jib, use an asymmetric spinnaker or what? What's my
best, all around solution? |
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April 10, 2007 submitted
by Mick Doughty |
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I have
a Hallberg Rassy Rasmus, ketch rigged, over in Slidell, due to "Katrina"
and work commitments (in the UK) I have been unable to get the original
work I wanted doing carried out or indeed come over for more than
a year, I am concerned about the condition of the sails and wonder
if you carry out cleaning refurbishment etc. Can you help? |
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April
4, 2007 submitted by Tom Berkemeyer |
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I sail
in the tropics and have had serious mold problems with two different
laminated sail cloth products. I want the shape and performance that
a laminated sail provides but I don't want grey sails that break down
in 3-4 years as the mold destroys the bonding agent in the laminated
cloth. Any ideas? |
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April
2, 2007 submitted by Stephen Rangone
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I
am about to replace my current North Sails with new sails and am
pre-disposed to buying North sails again given the good luck I have
had with the current sails and the service provided by North. Can
I get specific info from North about your Premium NorDac? |
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March
29, 2007 |
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I recently
purchased 28' Catalina tall rig that had a Lazymate mainsail system
that worked quite well. Can you tell me where I can purchase this
exact system or who was original maufacturer? Can you suggest a similar
unencumbered simple flaking system for a full battened mainsail? |
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March
28, 2007 submitted by Bob Hassell |
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I'm considering
the purchase of a Beneteau 323 but it comes with a small 116% furling
jib -- small for Pacific Northwest light winds, that is. Unfortunately
the outboard shrouds and short inboard track seem to preclude use
of a larger sail (say 130% genoa?) that can be furled down when necessary.
So I'm wondering what light air sail options I have? |
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March
28, 2007 submitted by Helio Faria
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I have
installed a second hand Mainsail from North Sails. It has a top full
batten, 2 middle battens and a smaller batten close to the bottom.
My bottom batten is always bending the opposite way. What do I need
to do to correct this? |
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March
27, 2007 submitted by Arthur Hoag
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I've
been noticing a fair bit of chafe on my spinnaker halyard. I've been
thinking it is from flying my North Gennaker (which I love, by
the way), in fairly rolly conditions. The sheaves at the mast
head, and the area around them, are pretty fair. Do you have any suggestions
for managing Chafe in this area? |
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February 22, 2007 submitted by
Robert Elmer |
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I have a new
loose footed main for my 32 foot cruiser/racing yacht and it seems
fine. I am concerned whether I should have a shelf foot added to avoid
leakage in down wind or reaching conditions. |
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February 19, 2007 submitted by
Guy Austin |
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Coding
for my Bavaria 33 requires a 3rd reef of 60% what does this mean?
Is it 60% sail area left or 60% of the sail area reefed in or is it
60% of the height of the sail left up the mast or 60% of the height
of the sail reefed in? |
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February 19, 2007 submitted by
Ian Denley |
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The boom
on my 1978 28' long keel sloop ends right at my temple while at the
helm. It is a serious hazard in a jibe. I would like to lift the boom
or at least the boom end above head height... |
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February 18, 2007 submitted by
Gene Neill |
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My daughter
will be departing the Gulf coast of Florida for a protracted solo
circumnavigation. And, since some 65% or more of her cruise will be
before the wind, she would like some sort of twin headsail arrangement.
Could she not run two headsails on the one headstay? |
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February 17, 2007 submitted by
Richard Ortis |
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I consider
myself a cruiser, but any time there's more than one sailboat cruising
together it's a race. We have yet to try the spinnaker that came with
the boat. It appears to have everything we need except a downhaul
for the pole... |
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February 15, 2007 submitted by
Phil Brown |
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Is
there a defined difference between a jib and a genoa? Is it weight
of sail cloth, or size, or cut? Thanks for your help. |
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January 31, 2007 submitted by
Eric Libman |
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I
recently purchased an Ericson 28 with an adjustable backstay. Under
the seat is a well mounted electric winch with a guide that directs
the cable and hook to the triangle. It also has a hand remote control
for the electric winch as well. I cannot find any info on power
adjustable backstays. Any help you can provide would be great... |
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January 26, 2007 submitted by
Joseph Schembri |
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I
just purchased a F 31 trimaran. The screecher is in a bad shape
I am not sure which is the best buy a new screecher or a Code 0?
What is your opinion? |
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January 19, 2007 submitted by
Mike Kovacs |
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I
have a Catalina 30. My wife and I love to sail, but are "slow,
safe" cruisers, not performance cruisers. We love to sail with
our mainsail and 110 jib while others are flying 135 and 150 genoas.
Would we like a G0, G2, or G3? |
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January 16, 2007 submitted by
John Draeger |
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My
boat is rigged for outside jibes with the asymmetric and we have
been doing barn door jibes. In other words, the clew is pulled outside/forward
of the rest of the sail. The last time we sailed, a crewmember rigged
the genaker sheets differently by running the lazy sheet between
the forestay and the luff of the genaker... |
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January 8, 2007 submitted by Steve
Lind |
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Saw on the
net, A Gulf 32 Pilothouse with a North Sails main with “ZipStop”
furling. Can you tell me what this is or is there a better (newer)
system? |
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January
3, 2007 submitted by Jim Pearson
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We just purchased
an Irwin 34 Citation and would like to put a Genoa/Jib track on the
deck. Are there any general guidelines for track placement and length?
Would it be better to try to install one track long enough to accommodate
both sails or position two shorter tracks? |
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November 26, 2006 submitted
by Bob Olesen |
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I would like
to use a G-0 sail on a beneteau 331. I am thinking of using the anchor
roller as the attachment for the tack. Can you advise if the loads
would be too excessive. |
|
| --> CLEANING
YOUR SAILS & CANVAS |
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March
6, 2006 submitted by Alvina Klass |
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Just
a question about cleaning our North Sails bimini, dodger & connector
- What is recommended to clean and remove mildew from our canvas before
we put it back on again for the spring (cleaning products & method)? |
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March
5, 2006 submitted by Lee &
Jane Taylor |
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We
have a 36' Tashiba with NorLam sails, which has made it to New Zealand
and back, but right now its sails are rather cruddy with some blackish
mildew stains. What/how would you recommend cleaning them? |
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North
Sails invites our cruising clients to write to our in-house "experts",
including John Gladstone (left), with questions and comments about
North cruising sails. We encourage questions that will help other
cruisers and we'll post your questions (with answers) to this page
frequently.