Head sail only?

[Ed]

It was very windy here this weekend. About 20 mph with gusts to 30's. I won't admit it to the first mate but might have been too windy for a newbie.......maybe.At any rate I reefed the main at the dock. When we got out to the lake I decided to sail with just the jib and unfurled it all the way.Went pretty well then got a big gust and had a little water come over the comming into the cockpit. The degree of heel ended the day at the request of the mate.Would I have been better sailing with just the reefed main? Shouold I have not unfurled the jib all the way? Should I have agreed with the mate and stayed in?Latered

 

[Ben]

20 - 30mph...

20 - 30mph winds will normally keep my wife's feet firmly on shore! Given that much of my future sailing depends a lot on her comfort level out on the lake...once the wind and waves start bringing water into the boat we are typically dousing sails, firing up the motor and headed back to shore. Her enjoyment is paramount to a great day of sailing!

 

[Mike C]

what size boat/.size headsail

20kts. is not bad to sail in. S a matter of fact , the boat will respond to the wind IF............. You just need to know how much canvas to expose to the wind. You would have been better sailing with your reefed main and no jib. Then spill the air out of the main by easing the mainsheet and (if you have one) lowering the traveller all the way to leeward. You don't have as much control with just your headsail. The air wants to push the boat downward as well as foward,causing lee helm and the inabllity to point the boat where you want it to go. If you have a 100% jib, that should be fine as is (with the main reefed), but if you were using anything bigger and you wanted to set the headsail along with the main, a partially unfurled headsail would be an option(remember that as you furl the headsail you are distorting the shape of the sail and not using it to it's optimum...I wouldn't furl anymore than about 30%-40% of the sail before you know you need a smaller headsail on or just the main)

 

[Ed]

23 oday and stock jib

Thanks Mike. That is kinda what I thought. I am sailing a O 23 and just a stock jib with a furler.

 

[Brian]

Sailing the 23

Due to the storms of late, we have had some serious wind here. Kinda reminds me of living in Oklahoma. Had the Oday 23 out the other day in 18 to 20 mph winds, gust to near 30. It was a training session with my first mate, and we went out with a 100% jib and un-reefed main. The hardest part of sailing the 23 in strong wind is it's tendency to round up into the wind. Spill the main a little and try to avoid a broad reach, and she'll do fine. If you have to drop a sail, lower the jib and go with the main alone. The 23 doesn't behave well with the jib alone, and I find it easier to handle with both sails up than just the jib. I'm lucky in that my wife loves it when we are heeled over, playing on the edge.By the way, anytime I get that kind of wind, I'm sailing.Hello, my name is Brian and I'm a sail-o-holic!Have fun

 

[Ed]

reefed main

On my 19' Mariner I find the boat balances well in strong winds with a reefed main alone.It won't point real well, but is well behaved.Unless I'm racing on a larger boat, 30 mph winds will keep me at the dock.