Sail Magazine

by Win Fowler

Win Fowler has built sails for America’s Cup boats, coastal cruisers and one-design racers

New Moves

by Win Fowler, Posted September 21, 2010

Joanne Rideout of Astoria, Oregon, asks: "I’m a new crewmember racing on an Olson 30 and one of the jobs I’ve been assigned is going on the foredeck to skirt the genoa when we tack. I’ve nearly fallen overboard a couple of times trying to get the sail inside the lifeline after it gets caught outside. What’s the best way to skirt a genoa when it gets stuck? Also, how do I

Spinnaker Savvy

by Win Fowler, Posted August 21, 2010

David von Fruke of Ssen, Minnesota, asks: "Last year I purchased a 202 ft2 asymmetrical spinnaker for my Hunter 170 along with a sock for dousing the sail. My goal is to set the spinnaker singlehanded, and while I can manage it, I do have trouble raising and lowering the sail. I have been thinking about putting the spinnaker on a roller furler. What do you

Tight Strings

by Win Fowler, Posted July 20, 2010

Philip Donegan of Kemah, Texas asks: "My 35ft boat has a 379 ft2 mainsail. I’m using 10mm braid for my reefing lines, but I am thinking about replacing them with smaller Dyneema lines on the theory that the smaller diameter line will reduce the friction on the blocks. Am I correct, and if so, what is the minimum line strength I can use?" Win Fowler

Tiny Tunes

by Win Fowler, Posted June 19, 2010

Joseph Serio of Brooklyn, New York, asks: "What is the best way to check that the shrouds and stays are properly adjusted on my Irwin 40 Mk 11?" Win Fowler replies: Let's talk about a single-spreader rig. For more spreaders the principles are the same, but the process is a bit trickier. Before you start, make sure the spreader-tip heights bisect

Well Sprung

by Win Fowler, Posted April 19, 2010

Joe Nieters of Dillon, Colorado, asks: "What are the advantages of a rigid boomvang? Many boats I’ve seen with them seem to also have topping lifts, and a lot of the rigid vangs also have a block-and-tackle control arrangement." Win Fowler replies: The advantage of a rigid boomvang is that it supports the boom. Having a topping lift and a rigid

Tension Tool

by Win Fowler, Posted January 19, 2010

Paul Derby of Cadillac, Michigan, asks: "My 1976 Pearson 30 has a hydraulic backstay tensioner and I am wondering what the optimum backstay tension should be when cruising. I’m also thinking about replacing the hydraulic system with something else. Any suggestions?" Win Fowler replies: I can’t give you exact advice on your backstay tension

Luff Considerations

by Win Fowler, Posted November 15, 2009

Bob Boller of Benicia, Califonia, asks: "I have three headsails for my 1980 Catalina 30 and their LPs are 85, 110 and 150. As it does on many cruising boats, the bow pulpit interferes with the lower portion of the sails, especially the smaller two. What do you think about slightly raising the tacks of the sails up the forestay? What effect will that have on the performance

Strength in Numbers

by Win Fowler, Posted July 14, 2009

John M. Bollinger of Bellevue, Ohio, asks: "I’m planning to replace my halyards this summer and I would like to learn how to splice them to the shackles myself. Where can I find this information?" Win Fowler replies: Splicing techniques vary depending on the type of cordage you plan to use. Most manufacturers provide detailed splicing

Clues for Clews

by Win Fowler, Posted June 14, 2009

Jim Ballantine of Charleston, S. Carolina, asks: ’ve installed new adjustable cars for my genoa aboard my 39-foot sloop. But now that I have them, I’m not sure what adjustments I should make to the cars when sailing in different wind conditions. I do know that whenever I reef down the headsail I should move the cars forward. But I’m not sure what other adjustments to make

Reefing rules

by Win Fowler, Posted May 19, 2009

Henry Buckminster, of Seattle, Washington, asks: "My 35-foot 7⁄8 rig sloop has a 135 percent roller-furling jib, and once the wind starts blowing over about 12–14 knots I want to take a reef. But I’m not sure whether I should reef the mainsail or the headsail first. Are there any reefing rules when going to windward, and does the protocol stay the same when I am running off