Best sail combination for a 2009 26M ?

[racegig]

I'm in the process of buying a to sail here in Quebec city on the St-Laurence river.

What would be the best sail performance combination ?

I do not have a lot of sailing experience but I read a lot about it and I also own a Lazer 1
I also have been a deckhand on a 13 days trip from Boston to Virgin Islands and got cought on a huricane on the way there (I don't remember that huricane's name). That was on a 55 feet sailboat. we where only 3 of us on board including skipper.

Is it better to have roller furling all over or should I get only the Genoa/Jib with roller furling and keep the maibsail as it is or the oposite ?

If money was not an issue...

What would be the ultimate racing combination of sails for that boat?
What roller furling manufacturer ?
What sail manufacturer ?
Boom Kicker ? Vang?

I will probably do a lot of single handling.

ModsNote:
Moved to Modifications ~fc

[Gerry the fish]

Bought my boat last April

Mostly single handed sailing

Love the roller furling 150% genoa - also bought the Jib but havent used it. Genoa does not point as high when its rolled up part way - poor leading edge shape.

Bought the genoa because winds are usually light (5 to 10) but August afternoons you can rely on a west wind building to 15 - 20 knts.

The river flows east to west, so I leave the marina and unfurl the genoa all the way and run upriver as far as I can. Then turn around, roll the genoa up half way, raise the main, put a reef in it if needed, and beat back down river at 4 to 6 knots.

My recommendation - if your winds are usually >10 knots, go with the jib, if usually less than 10 knots, go with the genoa on a furler.

I had problems with the factory furler - I used to have to go up front and start the furl by hand, which defeats the whole purpose. I tightened the genoa halyard and greased the furler drum and havent had any problems since.

Gerry

[Gerry the fish]

What would be the ultimate racing combination of sails for that boat?

"racing sails"??????? if you are serious about going fast, then you are looking at the wrong boat.

I will go on the record as saying that in >10 mph winds the Macgregor can keep up with similar sized boats on a casual day out - just dont ask them if they want to race. In <10 mph wind, seems like everyone else steams by.

[racegig]

I want the race car, the Admiral wants the winibago.

So I guess I will still go for the

Thanks for the info.

[baldbaby2000]

Most of the advice about not racing the Macs is probably from people who have never raced. All sailboats are slow; the Macs are just slower! You can still win races but as you already have been told, the M is not the best racing boat. I try to race Wednesday evenings at Chatfield near Denver. Part of your decision might depend on what PHRF they give you. They now give us a 273 PHRF on Chatfield which at least gives us a chance. Before I had a 238 PHRF which made it tough to compete. Often we're not last to finish but never first. Richard O'brien who also has an M makes more races than I do. I use a main and 100% jib. The genoa tends to overpower the boat when the wind comes up so I just sacrifice the loss in speed in low winds by being more prepared if the wind comes up. If your winds aren't too strong (<15 knots) and squalls don't suddenly come up, like on some mountain lakes I sail on, I'd say go with the genoa. The 100% jib gives some tactical advantage when trying to round crowded marks because you can point higher and tack quicker. I've run the spinnaker a few times but we usually don't bother as there are only 2 of us and the course legs are short. It's also hard to keep the assymetric spinnaker full when going downwind due to blanketing by the main.

We have a standard boom vang. I was sailing with an X a few weeks ago and he had a boom kicker that seemed to help the sail shape in the very light winds we were in. The headsail is on a CDI roller furler. Depeding on your crew, you could go with a hank on headsail and save the money for a furler plus get better performance. The furler is nice in that you can depower quickly and don't have to worry about bagging the sail. I used to use a sock to cover the furled headsail for UV protection but the one I have now has a sewn in UV strip; much more convenient.

If you need the Waterbago I understand. I used to race E-scows, C-scows and Hobies so racing the M is definitely a step down. Go ahead and race anyway. Maybe another M will turn up that you can race against. It seems like we do about the best with a 15 knot wind. Light winds require a lot of attention to keep the boat from stalling.

[mikelinmon]

The truth about sails from an old MacGregor dealer and even older MacGregor racer. Sails, I have used them all. It takes a long time for a sailmaker to learn to make the best sails for a particular boat; a Star sail; has a shape very different from an Americas' cup boat. Neither can make a sail for an ice boat that would be as good as the better regular guys who make ice boat sails. On the other hand, quality of workmanship and materials can be much better with a custom sailmaker than with the expert maker with any given boat.
Confused yet? The Mac 26M has some very unusual needs from its sails, the rotating mast nust be figured in. When Roger and I put the the first rotating mast on a monohull MacGregor ( it was my own 1989 classic ) he threw the mainsail away in the first few min of use and we put the boat away to wait for a sail with less draft. No sailmaker can make a sail for the MacGregor that has shape as good as the stock MacGregor sails. Roger MacGregor throws away sails for the slightest error each time he produces a new boat . When they are perfect, they go on the production boat. A better quality sail will mean heavier material or Plastic laminate; i.e. mylar, kevlar, carbo fiber. Cost gos up with the material. The very strong light exotic materials will hold shape better than stock sails but will not last very long unless folded neatly each time used, they will crack and tear from flapping too much or getting caught on something, snagged or any other damage. Heavier dacron sails will last much longer but suffer from holding wrinkles or folding marks. If you are replacing your stock old sails, chose one feature from above. Cost, durability, proper shape, ability to take shape in light air, ease of folding/stuffing when putting boat away. Buying a new Mac, use the stock sails!

[racegig]

I forgot to tell you that my brother also wants to get a new Mac. We are looking foward to go "cruising" together each with our boats. Knowing my brother and myself, that will shurely end up in a race every time.

Again, thanks everyone for the great advise.

Will go with the stock mainsail + furler for headsail (probably jib) with UV strip. I like the convenience and safety of furler + boom kicker.

I still have some studying to do about wind speed around here (Quebec) I think they are usualy <15 knts. I also want to be equiped to use the boat around the Tadoussac area (about 200 miles north east from Quebec city) the St-Laurence there is a lot wider with more open sea and more wind. It's also one of the best place in the world to go whales watching. There are tons of them there. I also plan to go sailing on Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario once in a while.

Of course I understand that the boat has got the be blue (told my brother that the white one was faster).

[Captain Jim]

Terry,
Thanks for your post; I am almost in the same situation as you except my jib has to be replaced. I am trying to figure out what the best replacement choice is: jib, genny 110, genny 135 or 150; then OEM, KH C2000, or some other source yet to be determined.

I have a CDI FF1 fuler. Will I have to replace my fuler, if I choose to replace the jib with a genny?

In addition, I am looking a replacing the mainsail in 2010. So, I am also curious as to what the recommendations are.

Fair winds,

Jim
SV BOLD VENTURE

[bscott]

Terry,

Mike Inmon gave me some excellent suggestions when I bought my new main for the rotating mast conversion. He told me that the main had to be cut flatter than normal to compensate for the extra draft effect that the rotated mast produced. I spoke with other sail makers and had to explain the rotating mast feature and related it to a cat rotator.

I never felt good about this so I went with the C2000 since it was an upgraded copy of the OEM Doyle. The only thing I did different was to get it loose footed. There was a minor price add-on and longer delivery but it was worth it. The reefing points are too big for my style but I can change them for a few dollars if I want to.

Bob

[beene]

For what it is worth....... I had had my main tweaked a bit by a local loft. 3rd reef, longer battens, pockets sewn closed, loose footed, rope removed, overall seems reinforced...

I have been very impressed with the mains performance this year over last. Nice shape, etc.

Total cost for tweaks was around $250.

Cheers

G

[Frank C]

mikelinmon
You have provided some valuable insight but I'd like to ask you to take it one step further.
I am budgeting for a new mainsail, it was going to be this summer but now it is for next spring. Cost is a consideration and $1000.00 is a reasonable starting point. As well as cost, durability and ability to hold shape become a prime considerations. (high end pentax is out). . . .

Terry, I'm puzzled by your comment (bolded above)??? The KH pentex sail is priced at $1,200.

If I'm reading their webpage correctly, you 'll get a loose-footed main with two full-length battens, two reefing points, all in a pentex laminate. Isn't that a bunch more quality, priced right within your budget?

[Terry]

Frank;
The cost of the Pentax covers the cost of a main and Genoa in the C2000 range so the decision becomes more economically driven. Your comment regarding the Winnebago makes a whole lotta sense and the Mac is not a race boat, it is more a hobby cruiser. I am thinking that perhaps the KH C2000 route is the way to go, just looking for confirmation. The two full battens (Pentax) would be nice though but I sense the Pentax is a more high maintenance and lower longevity sail so I am reconsidering my options.
I am tentatively planning to retire next spring, so planning accordingly. It is an anxiety filled decision to retire. I thank the Gods I have my Mac to retire with.

[adrenaud]

Hi, I have just purchased and received my 2009 26M, purchased from Dowsar in Hamilton, I live in Blainville, quebec. I purchased a 150% genoa with roller furler and the standard Mac main. I am new to sailing although i have taken sailing lessons in the past. I am planning on taking my boat from Montreal to Quebec city in the next few weeks. Let me know if you purchase your boat, I am looking to meet up with other M26 owners if I can find some in our area. Andre

[racegig]

Congratulation for your new boat Andre !

Can't wait to get mine and I'm looking foward to sail with you.

Still have to sell my other boat first. It's a Lund Tyee fishing boat with 150hp

I'm already in contact with Dowsar for the new Mac.

Quebec1 is taking me on his M26 for a cruise tomorrow. We are sailing to the Montmagny sand Islands.

It will be my first cruise on a Mac.

Marc