A sailor on the "new post" forum opened a topic describing sailing with a 150 jib and being overpowered when the wind pipes up. I couldn't locate the post but Stu J & Joe from San Diego contributed excellent advise.
I think both Stu J & Joe from San Diego suggested that the 150 jib might be too much for the sailor to handle and I agree. I started out with a 150 on my C30 and it was way too much for me to deal with while single handed. I replaced it with a 135 deck sweeper, which I didn't like, and then with a 135 higher cut, which was perfect for me. I was glad it worked because my wife told me "no more jibs!!". Fortunately for me, through the sail trim forum network of sailors, I was able to quickly sell the 150 & 135 deck sweeper
There are probably a number of ways for a sailor to deal with gusts or a persistent overpowering wind situation. Here's what works for me. Let's say I'm hit with a gust and the boat heels over. With many newbie sailors this is panic time but all they have to do, to buy time to figure out the next step, is to drop the traveler and ease the jib sheet. That action (changing the angle of attack) will bring the boat back on it's feet. Assume it's a gust. If it is, just wait till it passes and then adjust the main/jib to it's original position(assuming it was correct for 100% efficiency) and sail merrily on their way.
Suppose it's a persistent wind change. The first thing I do is induce twist in the main/jib thus spilling power from the top 1/3 of both sails and making them less powerful. Maybe that didn't work. The next step is to make the sail as flat as possible (a flat sail is a less powerful sail) by adjusting the controls for draft depth & draft position. A sailor has to know the sail trim controls for the main/jib that adjust those 2 elements as well as the controls that adjust twist and angle of attack. If they don't they're just guessing at the adjustment procedure.
If none of the above work to stabilize the boat to the comfort level of the sailor then it's time to reef.
What's your method of dealing with a overpowered situation??
I think both Stu J & Joe from San Diego suggested that the 150 jib might be too much for the sailor to handle and I agree. I started out with a 150 on my C30 and it was way too much for me to deal with while single handed. I replaced it with a 135 deck sweeper, which I didn't like, and then with a 135 higher cut, which was perfect for me. I was glad it worked because my wife told me "no more jibs!!". Fortunately for me, through the sail trim forum network of sailors, I was able to quickly sell the 150 & 135 deck sweeper
There are probably a number of ways for a sailor to deal with gusts or a persistent overpowering wind situation. Here's what works for me. Let's say I'm hit with a gust and the boat heels over. With many newbie sailors this is panic time but all they have to do, to buy time to figure out the next step, is to drop the traveler and ease the jib sheet. That action (changing the angle of attack) will bring the boat back on it's feet. Assume it's a gust. If it is, just wait till it passes and then adjust the main/jib to it's original position(assuming it was correct for 100% efficiency) and sail merrily on their way.
Suppose it's a persistent wind change. The first thing I do is induce twist in the main/jib thus spilling power from the top 1/3 of both sails and making them less powerful. Maybe that didn't work. The next step is to make the sail as flat as possible (a flat sail is a less powerful sail) by adjusting the controls for draft depth & draft position. A sailor has to know the sail trim controls for the main/jib that adjust those 2 elements as well as the controls that adjust twist and angle of attack. If they don't they're just guessing at the adjustment procedure.
If none of the above work to stabilize the boat to the comfort level of the sailor then it's time to reef.
What's your method of dealing with a overpowered situation??