Submitted on September 22, 2005 by Ted Bailey

Question: Dear North Sails,

What's the definition of #1, #2 and #3 Genoa/Jibs?

Ted Bailey

Answer: Dear Ted,

The numerical names for genoas and jibs typically refer to the size of the sail. #1 is the largest headsail for which the boat is designed or rated. For years on most boats that would have been a 150% or 155% LP sail. (LP % is width of the sail from clew to luff as a percent of the width of the foretriangle). #3 jibs were around 95%, just filling the foretriangle, and the #2 was some size in between the #1 and #3, often around 135%. Many boats had several #1 genoas for different conditions below the wind range where the smaller #2 genoa would be needed, such as Light #1, Medium #1 and Heavy #1.

Now there is more diversity of rig types and sailplans than in the past. This has broadened the meaning of the numbers as heads'l names. Many boats don't use overlapping genoas at all. Their numbers may refer just to different weight and shape sails of nearly the same size, each for a particular wind and sea state.

Good luck!
Steve Reed

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