Sail upgrade for B43

[foster]

Hello,

I was disapointed with the quality of the standard sails delivered by Beneteau. In the Med you also need a third reef and a staysail with a reef, if the tramontane or mistral picks up before you can get to a decent shelter.

 

I always felt that around 18° of heel it is time to reef and this could happen going upwind with two reefs around 30knts. 

 

So instead of adding a third reef we ordered Hydranet Radial full batten main sail with three reefs and a new genoa in the same cloth from DELTA SAILS. This seems to transform the behaviour of the boat both in light and and heavier wind.

 

If someone also has a removable front stay did you add a track for the solent on the roof or use the standard genoa track wit two cars?

 

Just can't wait to get more use of this new upgraded sails.

 

Denis

[Mark and Karen]

Hi Denis
I've often wondered about a third reef and did enquire at the time of purchase but most said that the second reef was deep enough. Having been out in the joys that the Irish sea brings we think a third reef would be a good idea too.
Did you keep the single line reefing? anything else you had to change except adding another clutch?
thanks
Mark

[foster]

Hi,

I kept the single line reefs for the first two reefs. I will improve this by using a low stretch dyneema line.

The third reef has an aft line with an additional spinlock (like a racing piano now) and a spectra adapted short line between two padeyes on the mast for a perfect hold in extreme conditions. I will see how this works and if necessary go to a hook reefing system to hold well with no stretch at the rear end of the mainsail.

 

All my intermediate cars (without the battens) are on elastics to prevent tearing the eyes in the sail. 

 

The lazy bag will be a new one the elvstrom is out mostly by the UV in the Med.