Comparison of jib or mail for daysailing?

[Patrick]

Hello -A new-to-twin sails, prospective-owner question.....When daysailing a 27 in light air condition (under 10 kts, say), and you only wanted to mess with one sail, is there an advantage to using either the jib or the main. I understand it's a personal choice, and that speed will be compromised, but I'm interested in any particular benefits or disadvantages to one choice or the other.Thanks in advance for your responses to what even I realize is a weird question Patrick

 

[Jon W]

Which Sail?

Under your stated conditions, I would be inclined to use the main because the weather helm produced will help with windward progress, and there is less handling when tacking.If more speed is required, using just a large genoa might be preferable, but you would lose the advantages above.In heavy winds I have sometimes chosen just the jib over the main because the boat (steering) balances better.

 

[Lloyd]

Genoa for 5 years

I've been sailing my 27 by myself for the last 5 years with only the 150 genoa. My 27 has a North ( Harken) furler. My question was, do I want to spend time folding sails or sailing my boat. With the genoa the boat sails near hull speed. If the wind pipes up, I pull on the furling line and I'm not overpowered. As I approach the dock, another pull on the furling line and I'm ready to go home.

 

[Roger]

Old fashioned?

Call me old fashioned, but a sloop that is not rigged as a catboat looks wrong under only one sail. Also, sailing under just the jib pulls the bow down so it plows a bit, and under just the mainsail it is very easy to get into irons, and does not point well.Except when under storm conditions, a working jib (or rollerfurled to less than 100%) and mainsail (reefed or not) seems the easiest sail set that uses the boat as it was designed to be used.And it looks nice.Just my opinion.

 

[sloopercat]

I agree with Lloyd, sorta

I have a 160 jib on a furler on my '27. The main does nothing if the wind is blowing over 10 or so. I have passed many other boats on just the jib. It points real well, as others have said, I think it is because the bow digs in. I still enjoy setting both sails though, not much effort at all. Man, these boats sail well with a good set of sails. I race and can clean house boat for boat on the newer floating condos with 180ish PHRF ratings. In 5-10 knot air these boats are real killers. Not bad for a 23 year old boat with a 210 PHRF and a mediocore captain.

 

[Phil Decker]

Depends on the wind

I think it depends on whether you are beating upwind or running with the wind. If you are beating upwind, I would use the main, since you are probably tacking to get to where you are going, and you don't have to do much with the main. The pressure on the main behind the mast will also tend to point you into the wind.If you are running, use the jib. It will naturally tend to pull you downwind, again making it easier to steer. That's my very novice opinion.Phil DeckerEliot, Maine