What Kind of Sail Is This

[Saluki86]

When I bought my C16, this was in a bag.  It measures 140" (luff) x 140" (leech) x 120" (foot...I think those terms are correct).  If I worked the formula correctly, it is around 52.5 sq ft. 

The material is very thin....almost soft.  There are not marking or anything printed on it of anykind.  I am assuming it is some type of light wind foresail.  Do I need some type of pole with it?

Thanks,
Saluki 

[nies]

 It is a drifter, I have one also, a pole helps in light air.....................nies

[Salty19]

A pole is useful for ANY headsail going downwind.

I bet that's a 145 or so without doing any math.  Might be a drifter, those can be sized fairly large or in the 130-180% range depending on preference.

Is it nylon or sailcloth? Usually drifters are coated or ripstop nylon.

Here are the specs of the 110 and 155 for reference.

Sail Area: 110% Jib  -  43ft.2

Sail Area: 155% Genoa  -  60ft.2

That red arrow is indicative of the sail being made by Johnson, aka JSI. This was the OEM sailmaker for Hutchins when they made the early 16s

[philb Junkie19]

Some people call this light nylon sail a genniker.

[nies]

New word for me, but with 16 inches of snow last night in Hayward, Wis. I will have plenty of time to research it, will winter never end??....nies

[Saluki86]

Thanks Salty, Philb and NIES for the replies.

Great info about JSI.  I had actually seen that arrow on other sails before but thought it was identifying the tack.

I believe it is made of nylon.  It doesn't feel like any of the other sails.

Soooo.....novice here.....what is the difference between a genoa, jib and drifter?  Just the size?  Does a genoa have hanks?

I am kind of anxious to try it out.  Wind is light in the summer here.

[philb Junkie19]

 I got that wrong. Looks Like a Gennaker doesn't hank on and flys free off the halyard.  I have a sail like the one pictured and have been thinking it was a Gennaker. Live a lot learn a little.

[JTMeissner]

Saluki, I have the same sail.  Link to info and discussion of rigging here: http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=6061.0

There are times that I would like to have a pole; just means I have to adjust the course to best use the winds I have at the time.  I fly it a lot, and sometimes rig both foresails in their bags by the pulpit so I can quickly change between the two if need be.

-Justin

[Saluki86]

Thanks Justin!!

Duh.....I guess I should have searched the forum first before posting!  Note to self.....

If I may ask, how to you rig them both at the same time?  Do you have multiple forestays?

[Harrier]

"...what is the difference between a genoa, jib and drifter?"

Not sure about the drifter, but what I've come to understand is that a genoa is simply a jib that has a leech which extends aft beyond the mast.  The size (150, 130, etc) is normalized to sail area between the forestay and mast.  That theoretical area is "100%".   A 130 genoa is 30% more sail area then that theoretical 100%.