Hey Gary!
I'm just in my second year of having our boat Bounce (formerly Bouree), which came with a roller furler and a 130% and a 100%, both old and baggy. We're in the often light airs of Western Long Island Sound, so just the 100 would be impossible to race with in the summer. We tried just the 100% last year, with the expected results. Boats with genoas could make wind in the light & choppy conditions and we could not.
This year we're using the baggy 130% and have ordered a new 145%. Make sure whatever sails you get take advantage of the PHRF ratings rules in your area. If we had a 146% genoa, our rating would change by 3 seconds.
Here's the adjustments for YRALIS handicapping, but farther east may be different.
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A. HEADSAILS
Adjustment is based on the largest headsail and is determined by the LP/J ratio stated
as a percentage. The following table is relative to a boat designed to carry a 155%
headsail.
LP/J% Adjustment
Greater than 195 Determined by the PHRF Committee
Greater than 185 to 195 -12
Greater than 175 to 185 -9
Greater than 165 to 175 -6
Greater than 155 to 165 -3
Greater than 145 to 155 0
Greater than 135 to 145 +3
Greater than 115 to 135 +6
Greater than 95 to 115 +9
Up to 95 +12
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If you're not going to be one design (I'm assuming) then whatever headsails you get, make sure that you get the biggest of whichever size range you decide upon. 135, 145, 155 for example.
Considering your end of the Sound has more breeze, my uneducated suggestion would be to try out the 135% for next season's racing, that way you'll have a 100 and a 135 on board, and your rating won't suffer too much. You can always decide to add a 155% the following season if you like.
The bigger your genoa, the more crew you're going to need in order to sail to your rating. I've learned that crew are not always plentiful, esp if you can't sail to your rating.
