H356 Jib Trim on Broad Reach

[Bob R.]

We were out for our annual week-long sail on the Chesapeake a few weeks ago and was frustrated again by the inability to keep the jib from collapsing in light to moderate wind on a beam to broad reach. The fairleads on the cabin top keeps the clew of the jib too close to the hull and won't let the sail fill without collapsing on a broad reach. Even coming up on a beam reach, the cabin top fairleads pinch the clew in and compromise the shape. I pulled the sheet out of the fairlead and looped it outside the lifeline and wrapped it around the midship dock line cleat. The sail was much more stable and I picked up 1.5 kts of boat speed. Difficult to adjust trim and proved dangerous later when the wind pick up and had trouble getting the sheet off the cleat and losing control of the sail.

Now my question to other H356 owners. I am considering putting snatch blocks on the front base of the arch, getting longer jib sheet lines to run through the blocks and back to the cabin top trim winches. Has anyone done this for downwind sailing on a H356? It would likely require moving the sheets back to the fairleads for upwind sailing, but is the performance improvement worth the hassle?

The other option is to get an cruising spinnaker and furl the jib for broad reaching. The admiral doesn't like the spinnaker option, too much work to rig, hoist and douse the spinnaker.

 

[chuckwayne]

your idea would work, but be cumbersome. You could add a whisker pole and that would help, but the jib still tends to be shadowed by the main in light air. You gain upwind performance by being able to trim the jib inside-ask any H36 owner- but lose downwind. We use a chute or a cruising code zero, both in socks and they are easy to set and manage. A furler would also be a good, but more expensive, option.

 

[356_Steve]

I run the sheets for the 110% to the arch when racing all the time. It does help with boat speed by opening up the sheeting angle downwind. Depending on the next course, I'll run both, or just use the lazy sheet. That way I can be ready to pull the sail back between the shrouds for a close reach or close hauled. I have whisker pole for long races, but hardly use it in the bouy races. Well worth the trouble of running around on the foredeck.

I also have a 155% for the boat, and the sheets run to the arch all the time. I use a tweaker to pull the sheets down for close hauled. The boat sails its' rating with the 155%, and outsails about anything in very light air.

 

[Alan]

Absolutely nothing will out-perform an A kite on a broad reach. Very little effort required to set and sail it with excellent performance. If you add a sprit pole you can sail even deeper and faster.
Your idea of moving the sheets back is a good one but you should consider adding twings to them to control sail shape.

 

[Bob R.]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the consensus is getting chute. Will have to work on the admiral. Would like to crew on boats with a sock furler and one with a hoistable roller before making a decision.

Now, I need translations...what is a "tweaker" and what are "twings"?

 

[Alan]

"Twings" are the spin sheet equivalent of a barberhauler. A single thin line with a small block at one end that rides on the spin sheet and is used to change the direction of pull of the sheet. It helps to control the leach shape of the sail.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I guess a whisker pole could do the same thing in this situation by moving the clew out away from the boat ?

I keep looking at whisker poles wondering if I should get one.........

I had a Forespar whisker pole on my H260 and found it very effective but usually just used it when sailing downwind to keep the jib from collapsing......they are easier to handle on a smaller boat.

We have a Doyle APC and sock on our H356 so harder to justify a whisker pole so far......

Bob

 

[356_Steve]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the consensus is getting chute. Will have to work on the admiral. Would like to crew on boats with a sock furler and one with a hoistable roller before making a decision.

Now, I need translations...what is a "tweaker" and what are "twings"?

A tweaker is used to bring the sheet down. I believe a barberhauler is used to bring the sheet in, which is opposite of what you are trying to do.