Just curious

oharag

.
Dec 6, 2018
5
NA NA PA
Hello. I'm a noob regarding sailing. I'm interested in purchasing a sailboat one of these days. I wanted to join this website to pick your brains if possible.

I have a perplexing question regarding sailboat sails.

I know what the main sail does (mid boat).
I know what a jib or genoa sail does (front of bow).
I know what a Spinnaker sail does (usually attached during sailing downwind).

I'm looking at sailboats, and I have seen some with another sail between the Main and jib/genoa that is on a furler. I'm going to try to attach some pics of what I'm asking about.

What is this third sail? Is it a Spinnaker sail ready to go??? I know Cutters Sailboats usually have three sails. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jerry
 

Attachments

Jan 19, 2010
12,362
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
There can be several reasons for this second sail but the most common is the inner of the two headsails is your heavy wind sail. You put a reef in your main, roll up the big genoa and let out the smaller headsail.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Usually it is called a staysail. It is useful in heavier wind or sometimes when on a broad reach along with the jib.

Becarefull, sailing can be addictive but it is a healthy addiction. :biggrin:
 

DArcy

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Feb 11, 2017
1,691
Islander Freeport 36 Ottawa
Welcome aboard Jerry, and welcome to sailing!
What they said above about the staysail. Generally on any boat under about 40 feet the staysail is mostly useful for heavy weather sailing. Sometimes they are self tacking and people use them even in lighter air for upwind sailing so you don't have to haul a huge genoa (big jib) across.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Sometimes they are self tacking and people use them even in lighter air for upwind sailing so you don't have to haul a huge genoa (big jib) across.
An important point about permanently attached staysail stays. In order to tack the genoa it needs to be rolled up and then tacked and unrolled. Trying to get a big sail through the slot between the forestay and staysail stay will beat the crap out of an expensive sail.
 
Oct 19, 2017
7,733
O'Day 19 Littleton, NH
Welcome to the best sailing forum on the internet. You have made the best first step in becoming a great sailor. These guys know stuff and soon you will too.
In the case of a cutter rig, the headsail ahead of the staysail is called a yankee. Cutters generally have their masts stepped farther aft then a typical sloop and the yankees are therefore bigger than a sloop's headsail of the same percentage. Cutters were once a preferred design for offshore racing because of the range of weather conditions they sailed well in. As dlochner said. Ocean sailing doesn't usually require the number of tacks inshore sailing does.

-Will (Dragonfly)
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Or you have a hidden desire to stop your neighbour from running away from you all the time. :beer::dancing:
 

oharag

.
Dec 6, 2018
5
NA NA PA
Thanks for all the comments/best wishes.
I'm 50 at the moment. Have always loved the sea. At one time wanted to be an Oceanographer since I loved Killer Whales. Loved watching Jacques Cousteau growing up.
I realize the Ocean is unforgiving at times, but since watching all of the Youtube Sailors out there traveling around the world I'm starting to catch the Sailing bug. I think I started searching about living the Sailor life when I read that story about the Family (Husband/Wife and 4 kids) sailing around the world for 9 years. I figured if they can do it so could I.
My goal is to purchase a sea worthy sailing boat that I can retire on in 10ish years. I realize sailing is just not get in and go so I'll be doing some research (here and online) to learn the ins/outs.
Thanks
 
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Feb 2, 2010
373
Island Packet 37 Hull #2 Harpswell Me
An important point about permanently attached staysail stays. In order to tack the genoa it needs to be rolled up and then tacked and unrolled. Trying to get a big sail through the slot between the forestay and staysail stay will beat the crap out of an expensive sail.
Thats not actually true. I fly my staysail all the time on my IP37 and do not wind it in to perform a tack. In fact, because of friction of a wound up sail compared to the smoothness of the extrusion it is the opposite. i do however go all the way through the wind before releasing the sheet.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Thats not actually true. I fly my staysail all the time on my IP37 and do not wind it in to perform a tack. In fact, because of friction of a wound up sail compared to the smoothness of the extrusion it is the opposite. i do however go all the way through the wind before releasing the sheet.
You don't have roll the staysail to tack. I was referring to the genoa. The gap between the forestay and the baby stay is small and dragging a sail through the gap is not great for the sail.
 
Jun 24, 2014
80
Westsail 28 72 Long Beach , California
Those 2 pictures that Jerry posted , isn't that inside sail called called a solent sail ? Or solent rig ?
Hey Jerry , cutters are pretty cool huh ?
I't s kind of hard to see the staysail in this shot but it's there .
photo 6 by mark westi, on Flickr

Here is another shot and you can see the staysail boom (club footed staysail) better .

photo 3 by mark westi, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
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Likes: Will Gilmore
Jan 8, 2015
360
MacGregor 26S, Goman Express 30 Kerr Reservoir
My understanding is a solent rig has both stays meeting at the top of the mast. The pictures originally posted (especially the second) they do not.
 
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Mar 30, 2013
700
Allied Seawind MK II 32' Oologah Lake, Oklahoma
For a good, fun start find your local ASA (American Sailing Association) school and take the basic Keel boat class.
 
Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
At the age of 57 I signed up the wife and myself for sailing lessons through the local community college on a bucket list whim. Wish I had done it 20 years sooner. Good luck , but prepare for your plans to make zig zags as you learn and gain experience ( and bumps and bruises).
 
May 29, 2018
457
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
A Solent is usually an inner forestay that can be removed and stowed.
In my view, any boat with two permanently rigged forestays is a cutter.
That's an Australian's opinion, which is usually not worth much.

Gary
 
Jul 9, 2018
65
Catalina 25 Lake Monroe
Oharag,

The guys on this forum are full of experience and great advice. I enjoying learning from them immensely. I would also second @Roadking Larry 's comment about finding an ASA school to take ASA101 and ASA103 (ASA102 is now part of ASA103).

In *theory*, you just hoist the sails and go. You could figure out a lot of the basics from the internet and spend a long time fumbling through it, but there is so much to learn. Most importantly, learning the basics with an instructor of how to go through the movements so that they become second nature to you will allow you to focus on tuning all the other details.

Another suggestion is to find your local marina with a sailing club and regular races. They're always looking for people to help crew their boat in small races and it's invaluable experience. I always look for the oldest most weathered sailor in the group and try to crew with them. There's a wealth of knowledge with the guys that have been doing it forever and I try to soak it up like a sponge. Also, be prepared for snappy commands because when you're in a race, they don't have time to sugar coat anything, it's part of the excitement.
 
Feb 2, 2010
373
Island Packet 37 Hull #2 Harpswell Me
You don't have roll the staysail to tack. I was referring to the genoa. The gap between the forestay and the baby stay is small and dragging a sail through the gap is not great for the sail.
With a cutter rig, as opposed to a Solent rig, tacking my 135 genoa is not a problem at all. With a Solent rig, you would only ever fly one of the headsails at a time. With the cutter i fly both sails all the time unless running down wind. It does take a bit of practice though.