Headsails

The genoa or jib is typically the powerhouse of the boat. 60-70% of the propulsion comes from the headsail, so having a good profile for maximum performance is essential. There are many choices in materials, dimensions, amount of overlap, depth, and cut. Depending on your usage and objectives, we can tailor the headsail to meet your specific needs and preferences.

The High Aspect jib is primarily designed for sailing close to the wind. It is a slender sail with a maximum luff length and a width slightly forward of the mast. The High Aspect jib takes advantage of the fact that most of the power is generated in the forward part of the sail, where the wind is most effectively deflected. The aft part of the sail produces proportionally less power. As a result, this sail optimizes the available forestay length without requiring a large sail area. It can be sailed across a wide range of wind speeds (approximately 2 Bft to 6 Bft) without significant loss of speed or control.

The High Aspect jib is a very popular headsail and is suitable for both cruising and racing sailors. For cruising sailors, the high aspect design provides ease of handling during tacking maneuvers. The jib can also be equipped with vertical battens or roll battens for furling purposes. Optionally, a UV strip can be added to the leech and foot of the sail. This type of sail can be made from various materials, ranging from Dacron to cruising laminates or membranes.

The characteristic feature of a genoa is that its leech extends beyond the mast, resulting in a larger sail area compared to the mainsail. The positive effect of this sail is not achieved by capturing more wind, but rather by creating favorable airflow along the mainsail, thereby increasing its efficiency.

Different sizes of genoas are often designated by numbers 1, 2, or 3. Number 3 is the smallest size (slightly larger than a jib), while number 1 is the largest size. On the same boat, the fabric of larger genoas is often lighter than that of smaller genoas because the smaller ones are used in higher winds.

Racing sailors often use the genoa as a light wind sail. These light wind genoas are frequently made of film laminate to minimize weight.

Roller furling genoas are commonly made of dacron or cruising laminate. Cruising laminate has the characteristic of holding its shape for a longer time. Roller furling genoas can be equipped with foam reinforcement in the luff and a UV strip along the leech and foot.

A self-tacking jib, also known as a jib-boom or a self-tacking foresail, is essentially a type of high aspect jib with the sheeting controlled by a fixed track located just in front of the mast. This setup makes tacking maneuvers a breeze, as the jib easily swings from one side to the other without requiring the sheet to be adjusted. It is particularly useful in narrow waters where frequent tacking is necessary.

Modern vessels are increasingly equipped with self-tacking jibs for convenience and comfort. However, one disadvantage of a self-tacking jib is that it is relatively small, typically around 85% of the total sail area, and it struggles to catch much wind on a beam reach or downwind courses. Additionally, in light wind conditions, the sail area may be insufficient, but this can be compensated for by using a Code Zero or other light wind sails.

As the name suggests, the working jib is intended for heavy weather conditions. Typically used in winds of 6 Beaufort or stronger, it is advantageous to sail with a smaller headsail that has a lower sail point, reducing the heel angle of the boat. Additionally, using a working jib helps to preserve the larger genoa or high aspect jib in such conditions.

The working jib is typically a 100% jib with a shortened luff, resulting in a lower sail point and reduced sail area. During the design process, the position of the genoa tracks on the deck (lead position) is taken into consideration. Often, the foot of the sail is cut higher, allowing for a higher sheeting angle. This design helps to reduce the amount of water scooped up by the sail and may require a different sheeting angle.

Some boats are equipped with a cutter stay, which is an additional forestay located aft of the regular forestay. This cutter stay provides extra mast stability and also allows for the use of a cutter jib. In heavy weather conditions, the genoa can be furled or removed, and the boat can continue sailing with the cutter jib without the need for a complete sail change.

In more traditional cutter rigs, the cutter jib is often used in combination with a bowsprit-mounted jib, known as a “kluiver.” The kluiver is positioned far forward on the bowsprit and is cut high, while the cutter jib complements the space beneath the kluiver.

It is a larger headsail that is typically used in moderate to heavy wind conditions. The Yankee is smaller than a genoa but larger than a jib, providing good performance and sail area for upwind sailing. It is often used in combination with other headsails, such as a staysail or a mainsail, depending on the sail plan of the boat.