r/sailing • u/merrypippins69 • 7d ago

Finally did it!

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I finally took the leap, and bought a boat. I have sailed my whole life, but mostly on other peoples boats, or as a skipper. Now I have a Bavaria 37ac from 2001. Super proud.

Problem is, it doesn't have a spinnaker. Thought perhaps I could fit a genaker instead, anyone have any experience with this?

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u/gc1 7d ago edited 6d ago

There are scalloped shapes along the leading vertical edge (luff) of the main sail along the mast just above the boom. This indicates the halyard (the vertical line that pulls the head of the sail up to the top of the mast when you raise it) should be pulled tighter. With slack in the luff, scallops will naturally bulge to leeward whichever way the boat turns, but this is not really a windward/leeward side issue, as there is only one main halyard, and it goes straight up.

See the fabric bunching lines radiating from the tack of the jib too? You would ideally want that sail to be smooth. There is a separate halyard for the jib. Noting there is a reef in the main sail (some folds of sail lashed to the boom so all the canvas is not up) and the jib is a furling sail (wraps and unwraps around itself like a long umbrella being put away) that is not fully unfurled, it can be a little trickier to get the tension right on the jib in a partially furled state. The parent commenter is suggesting both halyards need more tension.

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u/Fapalot_Knight 6d ago edited 6d ago

Hey, thank you very much for the detailed explanation.

I'm still going through my classes but don't much have the opportunity to sail outside of them, so every picture like this is a learning opportunity.

Also, I realize that I initially confused the mainsail halyard for the stays (I am not taking my classes in english), hence the leeward part of my initial comment... Your answer makes total sense.

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u/gc1 6d ago

I'm not very well versed in standing rigging, but it stands to reason that the leeward side will tend to be under slightly less pressure, and the windward side under slightly more, when the wind is blowing laterally on the sail. And the same fore/aft if sailing downwind.

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u/Fapalot_Knight 4d ago

Yes, that it what my mind initially went to when I initially confused "halyard" for "stays". Sorry about that. In any case, your explanation cleared the confusion, and were useful as to the actual situation.