![]() One advantage is that, compared to a single large genoa, the two smaller headsails of the cutter rig produce a lower centre of gravity and therefore heeling angle. Unsure which to choose? In this two-part series, we will provide some views on both setups to aid your choice of rig. It allows the use of two different sized genoas but only one is used at any one time, and the forward genoa needs to be furled during a tack. The solent stay, on the other hand, sits directly behind the main forestay. Both sails can be used and tacked at the same time. The cutter rig utilises two headsails that sit relatively far apart from each other: a high-cut yankee connected to the main forestay (high clew to avoid the foot catching in waves when reaching), and a staysail connected to the inner forestay (the lower-clewed staysail catches the wind the high-cut yankee does not). Two popular options for off-shore cruising are the cutter rig and the solent rig, both sporting their own pros and cons. If you’re in doubt about the benefits of a code zero, ask some other sailors how they’re finding it.Here at Upffront, we are aware that many people are searching for the perfect bluewater cruising set up. Do your research, find the right company to do the work and be prepared to pay a bit extra for a proper solution.” An under-engineered piece of alloy won’t do, because the loads from a tight-luffed code zero are much higher than an asymmetric gennaker, particularly when you’re sailing tight angles. This is not a straightforward task, and it’s easy to underestimate the loads. “Sometimes the solution is a matter of shortening the luff of the headsail, but for some boats the only solution is to fit a forward masthead crane. The upper 20 to 30cm on the head are quite solid and not very flexible, so you need good separation to get the sail to furl smoothly without snagging. It’s up at the top where the problems tend to occur because of the stiffness of the head patch in the code zero. There are plenty of bowsprits available on the market which are pretty easy to retrofit. At deck level it’s easier because a bowsprit creates the separation in the lower section of the rig. Sailing is not the problem, it’s the furling that’s the issue. Retrofitting a masthead rig, though, it is rather more challenging to get the separation between the headstay and the code zero. “Sometimes the spinnaker halyard exit is directly above the headstay exit, but often you can solve this by putting a fairlead 30 to 40 cm above it, or by putting another sheave in the mast.” However, the key is to have some separation between the main forestay and the furling code zero. This gives you the extra strength and confidence that if a sudden gust strikes, or if you furl the sail too late, the aramid fibres will help cope with the extra overloading of the sail.”įitting a code zero to a boat with a fractional rig is fairly simple. However, if you go larger or you want to go transatlantic or do some long-distance cruises, then it makes sense to get a cloth with some aramid fibres, such as Kevlar or Technora Black. For anything up to a 38ft cruiser, this option is fine. “Normally we use Dimension Polyant, because you get a lot of sail for your money. ![]() “Cruising sailors are happy to have a large sail to keep the boat moving rather than having to start the engine and driving with that boring background noise until the next harbour.”įor most cruising customers, Lorenzen advises a straightforward and very affordable polyester laminate. ![]() Lorenzen says the shaping for a cruising code zero is designed in such a way to make it possible to sail just 10 or 15 degrees lower than a boat’s upwind heading in light winds. Unfurling a code zero is so much simpler and much less of a headache.” “It’s great for adding extra sail area downwind in a breeze, providing a lot more sail area than only mainsail and a small jib, but without the hassle or the handling challenge of flying an asymmetric spinnaker for example. ![]() You can pretty much use it at any angle, upwind or downwind. It’s a powerful sail, and on our cruising holiday last summer we used the code zero nearly all the time. “For lots of customers, cruising sailors included, they are really happy with the code zero it’s effectively a turbo for the boat, is easily furled, and easy to hoist and drop. If you only have a short-footed jib, or if you can’t hoist a genoa because of the position of the shrouds, then you have a real gap between true wind 55 to 110 degrees. That’s where the code zero comes in as an incredibly useful sail. “However as soon as you ease sheets, the longer foot brings much more performance. “If you’re sailing hard on the wind, there’s little to choose in performance between a headsail with a longer foot or a short-footed jib designed for self-tacking and ease of handling,” says Lorenzen.
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