I just listened to Kirsten Neuschäfer’s interview on the OCC news page https://www.oceancruisingclub.org/home/news/2719 in which she talks about using both forestay grooves at the same time for twin head sails. She says that such a configuration might damage the foil and, instead she had her twin sails stitched together. I’m pretty sure many of us fly twin sails simultaneously (one in each groove) and wondered if anyone has suffered foil damage as a consequence?
Simon

We have used two headsails in a two grove foil without problems, a block and halliard was hoisted at the head of the first sail to allow the second to he hoisted independently.  As they were both 140% genoas, they induced less rolling if they were reefed a few rolls to flatten them.  Once rolled, of course, any strain on the foil track is reduced.  As an aside we sailed to windwards for a while with both sails on the same side! However, for our subesequent Atlantic crossing we fitted a second forestay which allowed a Genoa on the outer stay and a 100% jib with fairly high clew on the inner one.  Running, we now boom one out each side and that seems to balance well enough to keep the hydrovane happy.

Thank you both. Great suggestion to put to roll away a bit of the twin headsail to mitigate possible damage to the foil.
Simon

+x

 

Richard.Kingsnorth - 5 Jun 2024

We have used two headsails in a two grove foil without problems, a block and halliard was hoisted at the head of the first sail to allow the second to he hoisted independently.  As they were both 140% genoas, they induced less rolling if they were reefed a few rolls to flatten them.  Once rolled, of course, any strain on the foil track is reduced.  As an aside we sailed to windwards for a while with both sails on the same side! However, for our subesequent Atlantic crossing we fitted a second forestay which allowed a Genoa on the outer stay and a 100% jib with fairly high clew on the inner one.  Running, we now boom one out each side and that seems to balance well enough to keep the hydrovane happy.

+x

 

Simon Currin - 6 Jun 2024

Thank you both. Great suggestion to put to roll away a bit of the twin headsail to mitigate possible damage to the foil.
Simon

+x

 

Richard.Kingsnorth - 5 Jun 2024

We have used two headsails in a two grove foil without problems, a block and halliard was hoisted at the head of the first sail to allow the second to he hoisted independently.  As they were both 140% genoas, they induced less rolling if they were reefed a few rolls to flatten them.  Once rolled, of course, any strain on the foil track is reduced.  As an aside we sailed to windwards for a while with both sails on the same side! However, for our subesequent Atlantic crossing we fitted a second forestay which allowed a Genoa on the outer stay and a 100% jib with fairly high clew on the inner one.  Running, we now boom one out each side and that seems to balance well enough to keep the hydrovane happy.

Yes, Simon, that was a good suggestion of Richards and is something to keep in mind for any foil-to-bolt-rope problem where you want to decrease strain. I recently had some stitching go bad on my bolt-rope strip which I stitched up myself, but worried it might not be up to the strain of going upwind in a breeze. My plan was to take in a couple of rolls of the sail which would relieve any strain just as Richard describes.
I could also see this being effective with a sail rip close to the foil.
My best, Dick
Ps. I would also be interested in what off-shore boat riggers have to say and roller furling manufacturers.

+x

 

Dick - 8 Jun 2024

+x

 

Simon Currin - 6 Jun 2024

Thank you both. Great suggestion to put to roll away a bit of the twin headsail to mitigate possible damage to the foil.
Simon

+x

 

Richard.Kingsnorth - 5 Jun 2024

We have used two headsails in a two grove foil without problems, a block and halliard was hoisted at the head of the first sail to allow the second to he hoisted independently.  As they were both 140% genoas, they induced less rolling if they were reefed a few rolls to flatten them.  Once rolled, of course, any strain on the foil track is reduced.  As an aside we sailed to windwards for a while with both sails on the same side! However, for our subesequent Atlantic crossing we fitted a second forestay which allowed a Genoa on the outer stay and a 100% jib with fairly high clew on the inner one.  Running, we now boom one out each side and that seems to balance well enough to keep the hydrovane happy.

Yes, Simon, that was a good suggestion of Richards and is something to keep in mind for any foil-to-bolt-rope problem where you want to decrease strain. I recently had some stitching go bad on my bolt-rope strip which I stitched up myself, but worried it might not be up to the strain of going upwind in a breeze. My plan was to take in a couple of rolls of the sail which would relieve any strain just as Richard describes.
I could also see this being effective with a sail rip close to the foil.
My best, Dick
Ps. I would also be interested in what off-shore boat riggers have to say and roller furling manufacturers.

Perhaps best to take a couple of wraps as a matter of habit as it is easy to do and does not decrease the sail area appreciably? Dick