Last week two friends and I were sailing my 2000 H-260 on Lake Mead. We had winds blowing from 25 to 30 MPH. Out plan that day was to sail the boat hard as I wanted to know how it would handle when the winds were high. Well, the boat did well. We seldom got more than twenty degrees of list even though we were using full sails. However, we had a problem with the jib. No matter how tight we set the jib sheet, the jib continued to luff severely until we failed the clew of the jib. The metal ring pulled through the two straps holding it to the jib. How should we have trimmed the jib under these conditions? What could I have done to keep the jib from luffing so severely. Incidently we also failed two of the slugs on the main sail.
H-260 Jib control
- Thread starter Sam Morgan
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P
Pete Owens
Hard to believe!
I have sailed in many conditions on my hunter 26. At 25 knots I am reefed. At 30 to 35 knots the working jib comes down. Heeling is normally between 25 to 35 degrees unless sheeted tight into the wind. This is with full balast and too much weighted stuff below deck. How you find your 260 not as tender is interesting. Have you checked to see how accurate you wind meter is?
I have sailed in many conditions on my hunter 26. At 25 knots I am reefed. At 30 to 35 knots the working jib comes down. Heeling is normally between 25 to 35 degrees unless sheeted tight into the wind. This is with full balast and too much weighted stuff below deck. How you find your 260 not as tender is interesting. Have you checked to see how accurate you wind meter is?
S
scott
Move the fairlead forward?
or inboard if possible. Next time go to the bow and sight up the stay to see if sagging off to leeward, if so, tighten the forestay or back stay. Now, go break something else. Scott
or inboard if possible. Next time go to the bow and sight up the stay to see if sagging off to leeward, if so, tighten the forestay or back stay. Now, go break something else. Scott
Wind Speed
I don't have a wind meter. There are weather stations on Lake Mead and I was using their readings.
I don't have a wind meter. There are weather stations on Lake Mead and I was using their readings.
Pinching
My impression is that your jib is luffing because you are pointing too high into the wind. That would also account for your reduced healing, too. With both the main and jib sheeted as tight as possible, your jib will luff first because its angle to the wind will always be a little more open due to the sheeting angle (off center) compared to the main (on the centerline). The H260 doesn't take much sail power to move it along and will sail faster up on its feet rather than over canvased and lying over at a deep heel angle. I've usually put the first reef in the main at 15 to 18 knots of wind, and the second (as provided from the factory) goes in around 20 to 22 knots. At these wind speeds the boat will move just fine on main alone and, esp. if single handed or with green crew, I'll not use the jib at all. Fair winds, Tom
My impression is that your jib is luffing because you are pointing too high into the wind. That would also account for your reduced healing, too. With both the main and jib sheeted as tight as possible, your jib will luff first because its angle to the wind will always be a little more open due to the sheeting angle (off center) compared to the main (on the centerline). The H260 doesn't take much sail power to move it along and will sail faster up on its feet rather than over canvased and lying over at a deep heel angle. I've usually put the first reef in the main at 15 to 18 knots of wind, and the second (as provided from the factory) goes in around 20 to 22 knots. At these wind speeds the boat will move just fine on main alone and, esp. if single handed or with green crew, I'll not use the jib at all. Fair winds, Tom
M
Mark
Pointing up tooooo far
And Scott the 260 does not have a backstay! Take her of the breeze a little and if you are heeling too much reduce sail. As Tom rightly stated the 260 sails best flat or near to it. Just like any other yacht for that matter.
And Scott the 260 does not have a backstay! Take her of the breeze a little and if you are heeling too much reduce sail. As Tom rightly stated the 260 sails best flat or near to it. Just like any other yacht for that matter.
Thanks for the tips
I did not think we were sailing that close to the wind but your thoughts make sense. I should have the jib fixed in a couple of days and I will be looking forward to getting back on the lake on a windy day. Which brings up another question. Has anyone experinced a knockdown in a H-260? If so, what happens after the knockdown? If you are on a beam reach with the sails tight, what can be expected during a strong gust?
I did not think we were sailing that close to the wind but your thoughts make sense. I should have the jib fixed in a couple of days and I will be looking forward to getting back on the lake on a windy day. Which brings up another question. Has anyone experinced a knockdown in a H-260? If so, what happens after the knockdown? If you are on a beam reach with the sails tight, what can be expected during a strong gust?
Gusts...
I've not suffered a knock down on a H260 (or any other boat). My experience is that the boat will turn into the wind if it is over powered. If I couldn't ease the sheets for some reason, I would steer up (pinch, not dead up wind) into the wind to avoid a potential knock down. Fair winds, Tom
I've not suffered a knock down on a H260 (or any other boat). My experience is that the boat will turn into the wind if it is over powered. If I couldn't ease the sheets for some reason, I would steer up (pinch, not dead up wind) into the wind to avoid a potential knock down. Fair winds, Tom
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