Would you get a PHRF adjustment credit by moving to a 135% Roller Furling 
headsail?

 

Rod Stright

Halifax

 

From: Charlie Nelson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> 
Sent: February-09-21 12:23 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: cenel...@aol.com
Subject: Stus-List New sails, new wind

 

Hello all listers.  

 

I have a hypothetical for the racers among you. 

 

I need to replace my 3DL headsail--its mostly patches after ~ 5 years of club 
racing locally. This is about my 3rd laminate style headsail---and my last!

 

I am probably going with the North 3D Nordac which has replaced the former 3DL 
technology with what they call a composite sail--not laminated but still built 
over a 3D mold of the sail shape desired--if I understand this correctly. I do 
not need the super light and costly Raw or Endurance.

 

Anyhow, I plan to move to a new sailing area off Southport, NC near Bald Head 
Island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River--basically on the NC coast.

 

All my club racing to date has been in the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers, 
occasionally racing to Ocracoke across the Pamlico Sound. For these areas, a 
155% headsail is the largest you can race with locally without penalty and so 
that is what I have always used. 

 

The North sail maker suggested because of the higher coastal winds that I may 
not need a 155% since the wind strength is higher at the coast. OTOH, a racer 
there uses a 155% headsail and says he does well with it. 

 

I checked the historical average wind speed for Southport and New Bern and the 
coastal winds are from 20-25% higher than at New Bern. 

For instance, the avg. wind speed varies from 5.5-8.1 knots in New Bern vs. 
about 7-10 knots in Southport, or about 25% higher on average.

 

Further, I know from experience that my masthead rig becomes seriously 
overpowered once the wind gets greater than about 12 knots true, when its time 
to reef the main(I only have 1 reef point) and if it goes above ~ 15 knots, I 
need to roll the headsail a few turns (or change down to a 135% or 90% 
headsail).

 

I am not inclined to go less than the 155% allowed locally (PHRF) but maybe I 
should--the local North guy suggested ~ 140%. This might better match the local 
wind and is less expensive since less material is used. OTOH, I don't want to 
be under canvassed on the light air days. 

 

Further, there is the question of sail material weight to consider. 

 

I plan for this to be my last headsail purchase and may use it some for local 
cruising in addition to club racing. BTW, it will be used on a furler either 
way.

 

So what would the listers do!!

 

Charlie Nelson

1995 C&C 36 XL/kcb

Water Phantom

 

 

 

 

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