Submitted on June 2, 2005 by Mark F. D'Amico

Question: Hi, I bought a Beneteau 311 and it came with a really nice North Gennaker and Snuffer system. What is the purpose of the "wide belt" that is attached to the tack? Any rigging advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here is what seems to me to make sense, let me know if I'm incorrect.

1. The Sheets should be outside of everything all the way aft until they are at the aft blocks.

2. The "belt" loops around the furled headsail. Essentially, this means that the tack of the gennaker will always be attached to the furled headsail but can ride up or down the headsail be easing or sheeting the tack

3. I need a tack line that runs to a snatch block on the bow, then back to the cockpit.

4. The line should be inside the bow pulpit

Gybing
Can I gybe without snuffing? how?

Thanks
Mark

Answer: Hi Mark,Your description of how to rig the lines for your new Gennaker is correct. The belt is made to loop around the furled headsail and hold the sail near the headstay. With the new North Gennaker designs you don't need to use the tack belt and in fact gybing the sail is easier without the belt. However, some sailors prefer to have the tack in a fixed location.

To gybe you follow these steps:
1) Bear off to a broad reach, pull the mainsail in so that the boom is
inside the rail of the boat. Ease the gennaker sheet sheet out until the sail collapses.

2) Completely release the gennaker sheet and aggressively pull in the
new sheet, which will be on the windward side of the boat.

3) When the clew of the gennaker is around the headstay and on the old
windward side of the boat, steer the boat through the gybe and onto a broad reach on the new gybe.

4) Continue to pull the new gennaker sheet until the clew is about even
with the mast, or the sail is otherwise full and trimmed for the conditions. Ease the mainsail out.

Ask your closest North loft for a copy of the Gennaker Handling CD-Rom. Or you can buy one on our Web site for $1.25 + shipping.

Regards,
Dan Neri

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