460 (or 450) Staysails

[Richard Owen]

I was sailing last week in winds up to 30Kn. Our 460 handled it quite well considering that it was our first sail on this boat in winds of this magnitude. We have some things to sort out to make the boat a bit easier to handle in these conditions - we need more practice for one thing - even in just learning how best to take the boat into the seas. It was a good time, though.One thing I didn't like was how the furler handled. We let out about 1/3 of the jib at first - it won't set well partially furled. Then trying to get it back in was a chore. I think it would be good to have an additional block with an integral cleat so that we could take it to a winch. That way we could hold it with the cleat and bring it in with the winch. I realize that we would have to be very careful with the winch - being sure not to break anything, but i still think that the control achieved would be much better. It's almost impossible to even hold the furler against a big wind (even off the wind) let alone furl it in.I have strayed from my initial question for current owners. For those who have the second forestay rigged, does this help a lot in heavy weather?? I would like to hear about how you use this part of the rig. I don't have it and am wondering if I should add it.Thanks

 

[David Young]

Inner forestay

I have an inner forestay on my 460 but have not been able to use it yet. The retaining clip on the forestay is too weak to keep the forestay secure when not in use. There is too much tension on the clip fro the forestay, and it bends out of shape. I have a call into Hunter to try to get this fixed under warranty before having a replacement tooled myself. I think this has been a problem with 450's and 460's as I have heard stories about some of the other boats with a similar difficulties.As for your RF - make sure that you put the furling line into the drum neatly so that it will easily furl and unfurl. This has helped quite a bit on my boat.

 

[Gordon Myers]

Inner-Forestay ... Yes to heavy weather

30 kts plus, you would find it easer to not use your Head Sail at all if you have a Inner-Forestay. The Head sail on a roller will not maintain a "good" sail shape. Put several reefs in your Main and put a 80% - 85% Jib on the Inner-Forestay. It will sail great and maintaine sail shape. As wind goes above 40 kts. you will probably only use the Jib until you reach the point where you will remove the Jib and put on a Storm Sail.

 

[warren feldstein]

foam or areo luff

When i had a CS30, any significant level of headsail furling would result in flying a BAG. The solution was to retro fit the sail with a foam luff. I was able to significantly furl the sail and maintain reasonable shape.

 

[Ron Hughes]

Inner forestay

Richard, shortly after getting my boat I ordered and received most of the hardware to retro-fit it with the factory inner forestay with quick release. Since we intend to beat up the coast of Washington next summer,I thought it prudent to prepare for heavy weather. I know that the 40.5 will handle admirably with the sail area reduced in this way, and given a proper installation, a staysail should serve very well on the 450-460. I will read with interest any posts that pertain directly to the Bergstrom and Ridder rig. In my mind, considering the fact that the mast is further forward on the hull (Center of Effort,COE) than a Bergstrom rig(like mine), you might find that triple reefing the main would work as well. But that is only a guess on my part. Ron P.S. Best Revenge is now a flag vessel!

 

[Shawn Severn]

Inner forestay is essential

Corinne and I have a factory installed inner forestay on our Passage 450. We purchased a 110 from a San Jaun 23 as a heavy weather sail. When we brought the boat down the west coast this year, the inner forestay sail was used more than any other sail on the boat. We use it to point higher in high winds (over 20 knots) and as a single storm sail to sail off in wind as great as 50 knots. It has become a true work horse on our boat. We will frequently use it over pulling out the roller head sail.