The sail and the furler should be fine (as someone already said, a furling genoa normally is designed to be partially furled).
The shape of the sail might be an issue. Try it furled a bit and check for the shape. If it is baggy in the middle, you know that it is not going to work well. Well designed sail should maintain, “generally”, its shape, even when partially furled. I don’t race, but I use the partially furled genoa all the time. One of the performance issues is that a furled sail on the leading edge fouls the air steaming along the sail. For normal sailing, it is not a big deal; for racing, it might be (e.g., you won’t be able to point as high). Marek 1994 C270 Legato Ottawa, ON From: David Knecht via CnC-List<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: September 12, 2022 11:12 To: CnC CnC discussion list<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: David Knecht<mailto:davidakne...@gmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Partially furling the genoa when racing I was talking to the skipper of a J27 who nearly always wins our PHRF class and he was telling me that while he wins a lot, he struggles in heavier air. He said he had recently started partially roller furling his large genoa for upwind legs and then unfurling downwind when the wind was strong enough to overpower him. I have never considered doing that and my larger genoa does not have “reef points” . What are the groups thoughts on the value/feasibility of this? Any reason it would be bad for the sail? It certainly would be easier than putting on my smaller sail when winds are questionable. I worry about not only sail shape, but when partially furled, the furler and genoa sheet are fighting each other, which might not be a good thing for the furler. Dave S/V Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT [cid:image001.png@01D8C69E.EACAC7C0]
