C28 sail combinations

[Paul Pfluger]

Ahoy there Catalina meisters! I'm looking for guidance on optimum sail combinations in differenct winds for a Catalina 28 MKII. When is it best to furl and reef and by how much? Cheers, Paul

 

[Calif. Ted]

Well Paul, My 270 is real close to your boat,

and the most common setup here is a 150% Genny on a furler and Dutchman on a dacron main with 1 deep reef point & jiffy reefing. I find that sailing close hauled you need to take a reef somewhere between 17 & 20 Knts and/or reduce to 100% on the jib. If you can drop off a little you can carry more sail as alternate to reefing.

 

[Alchemist]

Reef the Main first

Catalina makes masthead rigged boats. Typically, it is best to reef the main sail before you start to roll up the Genoa (although that's easier to do). As for when.The stock answer is "before you need to." Not much help, but true. Most boats sail better, more comfortably, and faster when they are sailed FLAT. Do what you can to depower the sails first, then when you are overpowered again, reef the main (10 -15 degrees of heel is a good target), then roll up the genoa a bit (120 - 130% is a good starting point). If you have a second reef, do that next, then roll up the Genoa some more.If that's not enough, get off the lake, the wind is too strong.Most people seem to start to reef their mains at about 15 - 20 kts, but some do it earlier, and some do it later. In 2000, I did the first three races of the C-30 National CHampionships with a reefed main and full genoa in 20 - 25 knots. Won all three races, then sat the fourth race on the sidelines (had one throw-out).SteveC-30T Alchemist #4764C-320 Alchemist #909

 

[Paul Pfluger]

sail combinations

Thanks. My current boat's a 15/16 fractional rig and I always put up a smaller jib before reefing the main. I would have guessed you'd reduce the headsail first on a masthead boat too. Cheers, Paul

 

[Calif. Ted]

When lazy and just a short run to go I will

sometimes just reduce the headsail to keep things under control. But as pointed out the boat handles much better if you take that reef, lessens weather helm etc. Recently I went out with a reef in 15 kts. because I had just changed the lines and had been waiting for something over 15 to try things out. Normally I wouldn't have reefed & I expected wind to drop off and I'd have to shake it out within an hour or 2. Instead wind kept increasing to over 20, I was only boat with a reef and everyone else had reduced or eliminated headsails, others were obviously overpowered. With a reef my boat was handling beautiful and got it over hull speed (with full Genny). Anyway it really reinforced how much better it is to have that reef in the main than take the easy way out and I'm gonna reef more often.