Strange Request- Feel Free to Make Fun of Me...

Smithnmin

Member
So, I have a white race cut sail from Intensity Sails and I'm looking for ways to de-power this sail. I know, I know, what?! Currently, I'm sailing in Colorado with my dog in mostly gusty conditions. When I have him with me we need to stay in the boat and I'm finding myself getting a little over powered and treading a fine line in these early season conditions. I don't want to get rid of this sail cause it's super fun when it's just me...and when the water isn't 52 degrees. Maybe I can add a sail to our quiver, so my question is should I buy a new sail or is there a way to make our experience a little more turtle proof? I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new sail but don't really need a class legal one $$$, even though those do seem to be a little smaller than this race cut. I also wouldn't mind having a classic colorful Sunfish sail...
 
I have two very nice Sunfish recreational sails for sale, both very colorful. The are cut a little flatter than your race cut Intensity sail and would work fine
in the heavy air you describe. My daughter lives in Denver and I know it can get gusty there. Let me know if you are interested in either sail:

Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
 
I have two very nice Sunfish recreational sails for sale, both very colorful. The are cut a little flatter than your race cut Intensity sail and would work fine
in the heavy air you describe. My daughter lives in Denver and I know it can get gusty there. Let me know if you are interested in either sail:

Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
Thanks, Alan. I saw that, I'll let you know.
 
So, I have a white race cut sail from Intensity Sails and I'm looking for ways to de-power this sail. I know, I know, what?! Currently, I'm sailing in Colorado with my dog in mostly gusty conditions. When I have him with me we need to stay in the boat and I'm finding myself getting a little over powered and treading a fine line in these early season conditions. I don't want to get rid of this sail cause it's super fun when it's just me...and when the water isn't 52 degrees. Maybe I can add a sail to our quiver, so my question is should I buy a new sail or is there a way to make our experience a little more turtle proof? I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new sail but don't really need a class legal one $$$, even though those do seem to be a little smaller than this race cut. I also wouldn't mind having a classic colorful Sunfish sail...
Correction, the sail I have is from APS.
 
APS, a former advertiser here, has closed its sailing business. :(

Any new sail will increase your speed. (So, find an old "soft" sail). Well, maybe not...

But what I plan to do--to increase the number of my seasonal sunny sailing days--is to find a MiniFish sail. (I have spare spars to put the MiniFish sail on--so I can switch over in three minutes).

The MiniFish sail is smaller and will give you more security in gusty locales--as would a Snark or sailing canoe sail.

(I've got an "unaccountably-gusty" flat locale in Florida). :confused:

BTW: Do we "hank" Sunfish sails onto spars? Hitch? Snap? Click? Secure? :rolleyes:
 
There are always the technique methods of having less heel, such as letting out a little sheet and not sailing as close to the wind.
 
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I have new Minifish sails available. The Minifish is about 65 square feet compared to 75 square feet for the Sunfish. The sail is $165 plus shipping. I have Sunrise color scheme and Mackinaw. I might also have a Dragon color scheme which is blue, light blue, green, yellow, red and white (not in that order).
 
So, I have a white race cut sail from Intensity Sails and I'm looking for ways to de-power this sail. I know, I know, what?! Currently, I'm sailing in Colorado with my dog in mostly gusty conditions. When I have him with me we need to stay in the boat and I'm finding myself getting a little over powered and treading a fine line in these early season conditions. I don't want to get rid of this sail cause it's super fun when it's just me...and when the water isn't 52 degrees. Maybe I can add a sail to our quiver, so my question is should I buy a new sail or is there a way to make our experience a little more turtle proof? I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new sail but don't really need a class legal one $$$, even though those do seem to be a little smaller than this race cut. I also wouldn't mind having a classic colorful Sunfish sail...

I have been experimenting with using a Minifish sail rig on my Sunfish. I haven’t gotten to the point where I have experimented with anything greater than 10 mph breezes, but so far it seems to make the Sunfish a bit “calmer”. And slower, of course. But sometimes slower is ok.
I also have an old Minifish sail, and I am planning on trying to rig it up to some extra Sunfish spars that I have laying around. If that works it might result in a good “cruising” set up that any Sunfish sailor willing to put out a hundred bucks for a new sail could employ.
I know that empty Clorox bottles tied to the mast head aren’t “cool”, but if you really don’t want to turtle, it certainly works well, at least in my experience.
 
Add in the cunningham and other lines. This lets you pull the sail tighter allowing more air to spill out. There are some other tricks listed in the tuning guide. Of course a lot of that is to get more speed, just do the opposite :) There are some things with haylard position on the boom and where the gooseneck is set on the boom to let the sail be more comfortable for the winds you are working with.
 
I have been experimenting with using a Minifish sail rig on my Sunfish. I haven’t gotten to the point where I have experimented with anything greater than 10 mph breezes, but so far it seems to make the Sunfish a bit “calmer”. And slower, of course. But sometimes slower is ok.
I also have an old Minifish sail, and I am planning on trying to rig it up to some extra Sunfish spars that I have laying around. If that works it might result in a good “cruising” set up that any Sunfish sailor willing to put out a hundred bucks for a new sail could employ.
I know that empty Clorox bottles tied to the mast head aren’t “cool”, but if you really don’t want to turtle, it certainly works well, at least in my experience.
Brilliant!! The first time we turtled, I almost lost the daggerboard. Not interested in having that experience again with my little geriatric, non-swimmer, dog who thinks he is paddling for his life, even though he is wearing a life jacket. :) Not to mention the water was 52 degrees at the time, so a little chilly. Trying to figure out a good daggerboard leash too. I haven't cared about "cool" for a while now...
 
In addition to the other great suggestions, here are a couple more:

1) pull up your daggerboard six inches, or use one of the old, smaller Barrington boards. This will let your boat slip sideways a bit instead of heeling so much.
2) Check if your mast is sealed. if it is collecting much water, it will turtle easier and be harder to right.
 
SOrry didnt see this earlier... You can Jens Rig your sail and keep the Intensity Racing Sail.. here is a link to my video on different ways to do it... lee Montes
.
 
As mentioned before add in cleats to adjust tension the foot and luff of the sail. Look up the Vanguard instructions for putting together the sunfish as it will show you how.

Then there is adjusting the halyard point on the upper boom and less so where the gooseneck is on the lower boom.
 
In addition to the other great suggestions, here are a couple more:

2) Check if your mast is sealed. if it is collecting much water, it will turtle easier and be harder to right.
I've got a new mast, and need to attach the plastic covers to both ends.

I've also got some "Shoe-Goo®". An easy consistency to work with, seals firmly, and can be removed at some later time. That may be the answer to sealing the mast. :)
 
So, I have a white race cut sail from Intensity Sails and I'm looking for ways to de-power this sail. I know, I know, what?! Currently, I'm sailing in Colorado with my dog in mostly gusty conditions. When I have him with me we need to stay in the boat and I'm finding myself getting a little over powered and treading a fine line in these early season conditions. I don't want to get rid of this sail cause it's super fun when it's just me...and when the water isn't 52 degrees. Maybe I can add a sail to our quiver, so my question is should I buy a new sail or is there a way to make our experience a little more turtle proof? I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new sail but don't really need a class legal one $$$, even though those do seem to be a little smaller than this race cut. I also wouldn't mind having a classic colorful Sunfish sail...

Just saw your post so I thought I'd reach out to you. My name is Rick, I'm the Sunfish class association Southwest regional rep. I'm down in Las Cruces, NM. I would be happy to get together with you, look over your set up and see if we can solve your issue. I realize its short notice but my local club the 'Rio Grande Yacht Club' is having a beach party tomorrow at Elephant Butte Lake and then on the following weekend we are going to Grindstone lake in Ruidoso, NM. Grindstone is likely very similar to the lakes you listed. I regularly travel up to Colorado Springs so we might be able to meet at the lake in Pueblo, CO or perhaps Navajo Lake in the Farmington area. Feel free to contact me if I can help I will.
Rick
 

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