Cutter Rig Variation

[Paul]

Hi BillI have a 2002, 42’, 23000# cruiser with a standard crosscut furling 150 and in-mast furling main, I=49’3’ J=14’4” P=42’3” E=15’8”. The boat is well balanced with this setup in 10 to 20. To maintain balance above 20 requires reefing but still the boat handles well. The Gen seems to be too heavy for below 5 so stay at the dock or burn some diesel. Although I didn’t purchase the 2nd forestay at the time, the boat was designed to be cutter rigged, so a 2nd headsail can be added with little effort. Here’s my question: Since the boat doesn’t perform well below 6 or 7, what would you think about adding the 2nd staysail with a lighter weight 150 or 160 on the front stay for winds of 10-15 and less and then going to a 135 heavier weight on the inner stay for winds 15 and up? In its original cutter design the boat carries a 240 sqft self tending working jib, I’m guessing somewhere around I = 42 J=11.5.

 

[Bill Colombo]

Cutter Rig

Paul, The problem with putting a 135% genoa on the stays'l stay is that because the sail is short hoist it will have difficulty wrapping around the rig properly. Most Stays'ls do not have much overlap if any for this reason. If fact the best staysails sheet inboard of the shrouds. I think you are on the right track thinking that a lighter 150% genoa would be a better sail than your current one. We would typically build a 150 out of relatively light cloth compared to a 135% genoa since it has a lower effective wind range. However, there are advantages to the cutter rig. Two forestays give you more options in terms of sail combinations. At reaching angles sailing with both a 135% genoa as well as a stays'l can be a fast combination. A reefed main combined with a stay'sl is a great heavy air setup. I think that the 2 headsail setup with a 135% Headsail and a Staysail would be better than you current heavy 150% Genoa.Thanks,Bill ColomboDoyle Sails