is there a standard order in which you reduce sail area (1980 Catalina 22)? I have a std. main, 100% jib, and a 135% genowa. I could not get into the archives to use the search feature. I as sure this has been addressed before and I apologize in advance for the redundancy. Thanks, Yeto
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Yeto, I have a 100, 150 and main.
I sail a 1980 C22 on the upper Columbia River where we have big winds very often. By that I mean 18 to 23 mph with gusts to 30 and we regularly sail. I start by droping the 150 in favor of the 100 jib as the boat will reach hull speed with the smaller combo with ease. Reefing the main to run the 150 simply isn't needed. My next step is to harden up the rigging until both sails are basically flat. I do this with the outhaul, cunningham and backstay. After that I reef the main and leave the jib as is. Sailing with either the main or jib alone is your next step but by then you are simply station keeping. I plan on trying a 60% storm jib this summer to see how that handles. With all this knowledge you must also have the ability to heave to when all else fails. You can rest and recover or work on a new plan without being pounded to pulp. The C22 will do this nicely enough with little practice. It gives you some quiet time when all hell is breaking loose. Good luck, Ray
I sail a 1980 C22 on the upper Columbia River where we have big winds very often. By that I mean 18 to 23 mph with gusts to 30 and we regularly sail. I start by droping the 150 in favor of the 100 jib as the boat will reach hull speed with the smaller combo with ease. Reefing the main to run the 150 simply isn't needed. My next step is to harden up the rigging until both sails are basically flat. I do this with the outhaul, cunningham and backstay. After that I reef the main and leave the jib as is. Sailing with either the main or jib alone is your next step but by then you are simply station keeping. I plan on trying a 60% storm jib this summer to see how that handles. With all this knowledge you must also have the ability to heave to when all else fails. You can rest and recover or work on a new plan without being pounded to pulp. The C22 will do this nicely enough with little practice. It gives you some quiet time when all hell is breaking loose. Good luck, Ray
Here's my guidelines
I have a '75 C22 SK. I sail on an inland lake that is 7 miles long, and almost a mile wide at the farthest. My boat has new sails. A 6 oz main with two reefs, and a 6 oz 150% furling genoa on a CDI furler. Less than 10 mph winds, I sail with full main and genoa. As the winds pick up and a few white caps appear, I furl the genoa to about 110%. When the whitecaps become steady, about 12 - 15 mph, I put the first reef in, and keep the 110% sized genoa. If the winds seem to get close to 20 mph, I put the 2nd reef in, and also reduce the genoa to less than 100 %. I've found out that I can't beat to wind very well without at least some headsail flying. On a down wind leg, I may let out some more of the genoa to pick up speed, but strictly for the downwind leg. Life is easy when there is a furler involved.
I have a '75 C22 SK. I sail on an inland lake that is 7 miles long, and almost a mile wide at the farthest. My boat has new sails. A 6 oz main with two reefs, and a 6 oz 150% furling genoa on a CDI furler. Less than 10 mph winds, I sail with full main and genoa. As the winds pick up and a few white caps appear, I furl the genoa to about 110%. When the whitecaps become steady, about 12 - 15 mph, I put the first reef in, and keep the 110% sized genoa. If the winds seem to get close to 20 mph, I put the 2nd reef in, and also reduce the genoa to less than 100 %. I've found out that I can't beat to wind very well without at least some headsail flying. On a down wind leg, I may let out some more of the genoa to pick up speed, but strictly for the downwind leg. Life is easy when there is a furler involved.
My Sail Choices
My sail inventory consist of a double reef main, and head sails: 135, 110, and 70. 15 mph and under: Full main & 135 15-20: If I feel racey, single reef & 135, If not, single reef and 110 20-30: Double reef & 110 Over 30: Double reef & 70, this combination works great even with gust in the 40s Skill level is also a factor in sail choice. Do not fly so much sail that your boat gets knocked over. If you are thinking about reefing: do it, because too much mainsail tends to knock a C-22 over. I've reefed my main in light wind, because conditions can change quickly in our part of the Country. It is easy to shake a reef while sailing, but not so easy to reef when the wind screams in with a fury. I always fly two sails. Proper balance cannot be acheived otherwise. David
My sail inventory consist of a double reef main, and head sails: 135, 110, and 70. 15 mph and under: Full main & 135 15-20: If I feel racey, single reef & 135, If not, single reef and 110 20-30: Double reef & 110 Over 30: Double reef & 70, this combination works great even with gust in the 40s Skill level is also a factor in sail choice. Do not fly so much sail that your boat gets knocked over. If you are thinking about reefing: do it, because too much mainsail tends to knock a C-22 over. I've reefed my main in light wind, because conditions can change quickly in our part of the Country. It is easy to shake a reef while sailing, but not so easy to reef when the wind screams in with a fury. I always fly two sails. Proper balance cannot be acheived otherwise. David
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