I have noticed from the Heron Newsletter photos over the past few years that a large number of UK Heron sailors opt for what appears to be the 79% Genoa.&nbsp; From what we have gathered as well, their seems to be a general reluctance to use a full Genoa because it can be diffficult to control and handle the Heron in Force 5 &amp; 6 winds.<br /><br />I am curious if the clubs sailing a lot of Herons have generally observed race in, race out, that the boats with the 79% Genoa place higher in races.&nbsp; Perhaps it is because the larger foresail is adding speed or perhaps it is just because boats flying larger sails have in general better sailors.&nbsp; Any thoughts?&nbsp; I&#039;m still using a Jib in Kinvara although about a third of our fleet of 30 Herons now have a 79% Genoa or Full Genoa.&nbsp; Haven&#039;t decided if and when &#039;Putain&#039; will splurge on a new foresail.&nbsp; I figure if we can improve sailings skills and can learn to compete with a Jib then all the better.&nbsp;

Chris - I cannot answer your question directly as I do not sail in a club with any other Herons, I sail in the handicap fleet. -&nbsp; but I did buy a 75% Genoa last year. The water I sail on is Narrow and invloves lots of tacking and beating along the edge of the bank - the 75% Genoa can be pulled in nearer the centreline than the full genoa and so in theory at least you point higher, and with less sail flapping about when tacking in theory you would tack more efficiently ( again in theory ) - I have had no capsizes with this sail up - even sailing solo in 20 plus knots of wind, and I think the sail works really well for me.<br />The prospect of having to bear off a few degrees on the river would be disastrous even if I went more quickly with a bigger genoa. If I sailed on open water, where working shifts etc is not the b all and end all I would maybe go for the full size genoa and pinch upwind in heavy gusts. <br /><br />Sean Heron 728

Again I sail in a handicap fleet so can't compare with other Herons but my performance certainly improved with the smaller genoa.
I also sail on a limited water lots of short beats.
I point higher than before when I used a full genoa and don't have to work as hard to shift the sail across when tacking (its also easier for smaller crew members).
A genoa is faster over all than a jib.
On my limited water I rarely use a spinnaker the genoa is sufficient to beat a lot of the othe boats - though mainly on handicap it has to be said