[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

577.0. "Thrasher info needed" by CSMADM::BURNHAM (JACK BURNHAM) Thu Jun 18 1987 16:35

    IN REFERENCE TO TOPIC #523, WHICH I AUTHORED, I BELIEVE I MISLED
    PEOPLE OR CONFUSED THEM VIA A TYPO IN THE TITLE. BASICALLY, WHEN
    I PURCHASED MY ODAY '22, IT INCLUDED A THRASHER (SAIL) IN THE 
    DEAL. 
         I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVISE FROM ANYONE WHO HAS/HAD ONE OR
    HAS ANY INFORMATION ON THEM. WHEN IS THE OPTIMUM CONDITION TO
    SAIL IT? HOW DO YOU RIG IT? (ALSO, FOR MAXIMUM PERFOMANCE)
    SPECIFICALLY, DO I NEED A WHISKER POLE? WHAT PROBLEMS OR
    SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD USING THEM?
    
    THANKS TO ANYONE WITH ADVISE
     JACK

T.R Title User Personal
Name Date Lines

577.1 a little experience PULSAR::BERENS Alan Berens Thu Jun 18 1987 18:31 32

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
577.1	a little experience	PULSAR::BERENS	Alan Berens	`Thu Jun 18 1987 18:31`	32
	See note 58.1 also. My experience indicates that to be really useful downwind, a spinnaker pole is needed with a Thrasher or similar sail. (Practical Sailor's tests confirm this.) Using a pole, set the sail to windward with a fairly slack luff and trim the sheet so that the pole is at right angles to the wind. The sailmaker who made our sail claimed it could be used in 20 knots of apparent wind downwind. Yeah, right. I was never that brave or foolish. Downwind without the pole there is a substantial danger of wrapping the sail around the headstay as the boat rolls or wind shifts a little. We managed this amusing little trick twice. With a pole the sail will just collapse. Upwind set the sail with a bit of luff tension, but since the sail is (probably) 1.5 oz nylon, it is very easy to strech the cloth permanently out of shape. Maximum apparent wind (upwind) is about 5 knots, so you have to worry about gusts. All in all, I was rather disappointed in this sail, and I wouldn't buy another. A real spinnaker probably isn't that much harder to handle and provides much better downwind performance. Upwind a light genoa is better. If you buy a whisker or spinnaker pole, you should keep in mind that the loads on the pole increase significantly at higher wind speeds. A whisker pole (fully extended) may not be strong enough to be safe in a brisk wind. Have fun, Alan

See note 58.1 also.

My experience indicates that to be really useful downwind, a spinnaker
pole is needed with a Thrasher or similar sail. (Practical Sailor's
tests confirm this.) Using a pole, set the sail to windward with a
fairly slack luff and trim the sheet so that the pole is at right angles
to the wind. The sailmaker who made our sail claimed it could be used in
20 knots of apparent wind downwind. Yeah, right. I was never that brave
or foolish. Downwind without the pole there is a substantial danger of
wrapping the sail around the headstay as the boat rolls or wind shifts a
little. We managed this amusing little trick twice. With a pole the sail
will just collapse. 

Upwind set the sail with a bit of luff tension, but since the sail is
(probably) 1.5 oz nylon, it is very easy to strech the cloth permanently
out of shape. Maximum apparent wind (upwind) is about 5 knots, so you have
to worry about gusts. 

All in all, I was rather disappointed in this sail, and I wouldn't buy 
another. A real spinnaker probably isn't that much harder to handle and 
provides much better downwind performance. Upwind a light genoa is 
better.

If you buy a whisker or spinnaker pole, you should keep in mind that the 
loads on the pole increase significantly at higher wind speeds. A whisker 
pole (fully extended) may not be strong enough to be safe in a brisk wind.

Have fun,

Alan