At what wind speed should the sails be furled so to have the most efficent heel? Should the roller furling be furled first, or the main sail? What we fear most is the over turning of the boat due to high winds. What is the highes wind that the Catalina will handle, such as small craft warnings? Thank you Henry Carsberg abovethebest@comcast.net
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25 degrees
On a Cat 30, reef when the average heel is about 25 degrees. With a full crew (6-7) and good sails, that means you can carry a 150% Genoa and a full main to about 18 true (20 knots apparent). If you sail with fewer crew, use the 25 degree rule when racing and about 20 degrees cruising. The Cat 30 has 118 degrees of positive stability. That means the mast is in the water and she'll still come back up. I've sailed mine in over 45 knots (Gale) and while I was cold and wet the boat was happy. The only way you are going to overturn the boat is if the keel falls off or you get rolled over by a wave. If you have roller furling the sequence I suggest is: Full Genoa and Main Full Genoa and 1st Reef in Main. Genoa rolled 20% and reefed main. Genoa rolled 20% and 2nd reef in main. That should cover you up to about 30 knots of wind. With old or poorly trimmed sails the heel limit will be reached at lower wind speeds. I don't even think about reefing until the whitecaps are everywhere and spray starts coming into the cockpit. Catalina 30's are stiff boats, the rudder will tell you when it's time to reef with lots of weather helm.
On a Cat 30, reef when the average heel is about 25 degrees. With a full crew (6-7) and good sails, that means you can carry a 150% Genoa and a full main to about 18 true (20 knots apparent). If you sail with fewer crew, use the 25 degree rule when racing and about 20 degrees cruising. The Cat 30 has 118 degrees of positive stability. That means the mast is in the water and she'll still come back up. I've sailed mine in over 45 knots (Gale) and while I was cold and wet the boat was happy. The only way you are going to overturn the boat is if the keel falls off or you get rolled over by a wave. If you have roller furling the sequence I suggest is: Full Genoa and Main Full Genoa and 1st Reef in Main. Genoa rolled 20% and reefed main. Genoa rolled 20% and 2nd reef in main. That should cover you up to about 30 knots of wind. With old or poorly trimmed sails the heel limit will be reached at lower wind speeds. I don't even think about reefing until the whitecaps are everywhere and spray starts coming into the cockpit. Catalina 30's are stiff boats, the rudder will tell you when it's time to reef with lots of weather helm.
Moody Buccaneer .....
....gives good advice. The key, however, to heel is proper sail trim with good sails. Don't expect that ten year old dacron will give you the sail trim your looking for, ain't gonna happen. With older sails and improper sail trim, reef early and reef quickly.
....gives good advice. The key, however, to heel is proper sail trim with good sails. Don't expect that ten year old dacron will give you the sail trim your looking for, ain't gonna happen. With older sails and improper sail trim, reef early and reef quickly.
Catalina 30 very stable
I have been out in small craft warnings in the Catalina Channel above 30 knots, (and continue to do so) with my previous 30' Catalina with a 150, roller-furled genoa and main with no reef points. The only sail changes I ever made was to roller-reef the genoa to about 50%. I never felt the need to do more, just watch out for pollin-out the genoa and the possibility of rounding-up. If you are still nervious I would put 2 to 3 reef points in the main. Duane
I have been out in small craft warnings in the Catalina Channel above 30 knots, (and continue to do so) with my previous 30' Catalina with a 150, roller-furled genoa and main with no reef points. The only sail changes I ever made was to roller-reef the genoa to about 50%. I never felt the need to do more, just watch out for pollin-out the genoa and the possibility of rounding-up. If you are still nervious I would put 2 to 3 reef points in the main. Duane
With Crew of 2
With just me and GF, at apparent wind of 18 to 20K, i furl my 150 to about 100% and leave main up full. at about 22 to 25K i make my first reef in main. Above that to about 30K, i furl in jib to about 50 to 75%. Over 30K, i put main in 2nd reef and furl to about 50% and stay that way to about 35K. Have not sailed ablove that yet in my Catalina 30. My 30 has very little power in the main, its mostly in the genny. BTW, if you are still at the dock when over 20K, raise main and put in first reef , then drop it again. Now when you get into the open and boat is rocking and rollin, you will raise main with first reef already tied in. Much safer that way. Also note that when properly reefed, the heel angle is not very severe and you will still exceed hull speed. Have FUN !!!!
With just me and GF, at apparent wind of 18 to 20K, i furl my 150 to about 100% and leave main up full. at about 22 to 25K i make my first reef in main. Above that to about 30K, i furl in jib to about 50 to 75%. Over 30K, i put main in 2nd reef and furl to about 50% and stay that way to about 35K. Have not sailed ablove that yet in my Catalina 30. My 30 has very little power in the main, its mostly in the genny. BTW, if you are still at the dock when over 20K, raise main and put in first reef , then drop it again. Now when you get into the open and boat is rocking and rollin, you will raise main with first reef already tied in. Much safer that way. Also note that when properly reefed, the heel angle is not very severe and you will still exceed hull speed. Have FUN !!!!
Main First
is how I have reefed so far. Admittedly, with only a few months experience on a Cat30 I still have to find the best trimming. So far I have done most sailing in 15-30knt true winds (generally shorthanded, just my son and myself)and my impression was/is that quickly reefing the main (at say 18knts)took away much of the weatherhelm, which is one of the Cat's weak points. I then reef/furl the jib by say 30%. That gets me to around 22/25 knts.without too much heeling. What intrigues me is that I seem to find the 'sweet spot' in exactly the opposite sequence as most contributors to this thread. I have sailed very comfortably with only a no2 jib in 30knts achieving 6 to 6.2 knts which should be close to hull speed. My jibs are fairly new/very new, but my main is close to retirement. I'll experiment with some suggested trimmings, but would welcome further comments. From previous racing experience on other boats I have found that sail trim is pretty much everything and reefing early, though not very 'macho' gets excellent results because you don't go sideways through the water!
is how I have reefed so far. Admittedly, with only a few months experience on a Cat30 I still have to find the best trimming. So far I have done most sailing in 15-30knt true winds (generally shorthanded, just my son and myself)and my impression was/is that quickly reefing the main (at say 18knts)took away much of the weatherhelm, which is one of the Cat's weak points. I then reef/furl the jib by say 30%. That gets me to around 22/25 knts.without too much heeling. What intrigues me is that I seem to find the 'sweet spot' in exactly the opposite sequence as most contributors to this thread. I have sailed very comfortably with only a no2 jib in 30knts achieving 6 to 6.2 knts which should be close to hull speed. My jibs are fairly new/very new, but my main is close to retirement. I'll experiment with some suggested trimmings, but would welcome further comments. From previous racing experience on other boats I have found that sail trim is pretty much everything and reefing early, though not very 'macho' gets excellent results because you don't go sideways through the water!
Edward: You're right
Although MOST people roller reef their headsail on the C-30 first, it's both faster and better to reef the main first. The reason that most prople reef the genoa is that it's easier to do than reefing the main. I found exactly what you are reporting on minnimal weather hellm and flatter, more easy sailing when reefed in your conditions. That's approximately how I sailed the '02 C-30 nationals (wind was stronger, but we kept the full genoa the entire regatta) and won the only three (of four)races that we sailed. The second place boat started out with a double reef in his main and a full genoa, and that's about the margin that I beat him by. p.s. the C-320 reduces sail in the opposite order. That is, reef the genoa first, and then reef the main once the genoa is below about 135%) Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909
Although MOST people roller reef their headsail on the C-30 first, it's both faster and better to reef the main first. The reason that most prople reef the genoa is that it's easier to do than reefing the main. I found exactly what you are reporting on minnimal weather hellm and flatter, more easy sailing when reefed in your conditions. That's approximately how I sailed the '02 C-30 nationals (wind was stronger, but we kept the full genoa the entire regatta) and won the only three (of four)races that we sailed. The second place boat started out with a double reef in his main and a full genoa, and that's about the margin that I beat him by. p.s. the C-320 reduces sail in the opposite order. That is, reef the genoa first, and then reef the main once the genoa is below about 135%) Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909
Interesting comment Steve
about your race. I notice that when the difference between the Genoa and the main is large (such as full genoa and double reefed main) the Cat30 looses a lot of pointing ability (another of the few weaknesses...). That may explain your competitor's second place! So far it seems to me that keeping a balance between genoa reefing and main reefing will allow much better pointing, and perhaps if your competitor had reefed the genoa a bit, or had only had one reef in the main to achieve that balance he may have been closer to your transom! Would that make sense in your experience? I have the wing keeled version, which possibly points somewhat less close.
about your race. I notice that when the difference between the Genoa and the main is large (such as full genoa and double reefed main) the Cat30 looses a lot of pointing ability (another of the few weaknesses...). That may explain your competitor's second place! So far it seems to me that keeping a balance between genoa reefing and main reefing will allow much better pointing, and perhaps if your competitor had reefed the genoa a bit, or had only had one reef in the main to achieve that balance he may have been closer to your transom! Would that make sense in your experience? I have the wing keeled version, which possibly points somewhat less close.
Another factor
Though it is indeed easier to roll in the genoa some, the sail becomes much less efficient because of the altered shape of its luff with a few turns on the furler. On the other hand, the main doesn't lose much shape when reefed, it just loses area. If you have to give up good flow over the first couple of feet of the genoa, you are giving up a lot from a performance standpoint (for example, when racing or pointing that last few degrees.) However, if you are just wanting a comfortable afternoon's cruise, then it doesn't make so much difference, though I believe that anytime you sail in strong wind on a partially furled genoa you are "using up" the sail more than when it is fully deployed.
Though it is indeed easier to roll in the genoa some, the sail becomes much less efficient because of the altered shape of its luff with a few turns on the furler. On the other hand, the main doesn't lose much shape when reefed, it just loses area. If you have to give up good flow over the first couple of feet of the genoa, you are giving up a lot from a performance standpoint (for example, when racing or pointing that last few degrees.) However, if you are just wanting a comfortable afternoon's cruise, then it doesn't make so much difference, though I believe that anytime you sail in strong wind on a partially furled genoa you are "using up" the sail more than when it is fully deployed.
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