jib height while racing

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

When racing a flat decked boat, with a jib that has, say, 6 inches of variable hoist height...would you prefer to raise it fully? Or adjust it lower, to where it just barely sweeps the deck?
Would the wind speed alter the answer?
Thank you for any input.

 

[Simon Sexton]

Mr. Lance,

Is your boat a fractional or masthead sloop?

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Fractional. 18' Y-Flyer sloop. Scow-like.

 

[Ted]

I'd keep the foot low so that the deck creates an end plate effect.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Thank you Ted. That would be my thought also. I was just wondering if there were ever circumstances that might favor raising it fully.

 

[Simon Sexton]

Fractional. 18' Y-Flyer sloop. Scow-like.

Whoa, I don't think I've ever seen one of those; cool boat! She looks fast, too; I would personally keep the jib low, maybe just a quarter-inch off the foredeck so that there's little to no chance the foot could get caught on anything.

 

[Ted]

Raising the headsail 6" might yield a slight benefit going downwind. It is a known fact that wind speed aloft is greater than at the surface of the water. On a 23 foot boat like yours, there isn't enough height to make a difference. In this instance, dropping the sail to the deck would be your best option upwind.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Simon - they are simple yet really fun boats to sail...will jump up on plane very quickly. fairly inexpensive secondhand. a nation wide one design class...but by far most popular on lakes in the midwest region.

 

[Michael Davis]

circumstances that might favor raising it fully.

Might give you better visibility on the lee bow if you're not racing.

 

[jssailem]

Sweep the deck.

 

[Jackdaw]

For any given amount of sail area, a lower CE (Center of Effort) is better. So keep it low. The plate effect also helps but only a tiny bit on your boat.

 

[LeeandRick]

If the luff of the sail is under class measurement max length, get a new full size jib, deck to max hoist or max luff length. Go fast. I loved racing that boat years ago, but the bow will not punch through a wave, so weight aft.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate it!