Here in the Puget Sound I often see sailors running off their genoa only in heavy air. I would think that the rigging would be stressed more doing this instead of reefing in the main and genoa together.... Has anyone heard of concerns running with the genoa and no main? Thanks!
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Unbalanced rig
I don't know that it would necessarily overstress the standing rigging, but I would be concerned about blowing out the gennie. All sails have wind speed ranges that they are optimized for, and can be damaged by excessive wind pressure, even if the boat and rig will take the load. Additionally, with your center of effort well forward of your center of lateral resistance, you can expect a lot of leeward helm. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
I don't know that it would necessarily overstress the standing rigging, but I would be concerned about blowing out the gennie. All sails have wind speed ranges that they are optimized for, and can be damaged by excessive wind pressure, even if the boat and rig will take the load. Additionally, with your center of effort well forward of your center of lateral resistance, you can expect a lot of leeward helm. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Been there......
and tried that. Lee helm is just to weird and dangerous in high wind. Reef the main and lose the jib in high wind. Greg H23 Faster-
and tried that. Lee helm is just to weird and dangerous in high wind. Reef the main and lose the jib in high wind. Greg H23 Faster-
Interesting Question
Here in the Great Lakes I see the same thing. Most sailors prefer to use the genoa rather than a reefed main. I have a fractional rig 30 and have tried both on the same run. Felt that the reefed main gave me more stability and just as much speed which makes me wonder why most use the genoa.
Here in the Great Lakes I see the same thing. Most sailors prefer to use the genoa rather than a reefed main. I have a fractional rig 30 and have tried both on the same run. Felt that the reefed main gave me more stability and just as much speed which makes me wonder why most use the genoa.
Jib Alone
I don't really think you can overstress the rigging as a result of sail selection. However as stated before, you can end up with a dangerously unbalanced sail plan. That said, I have sailed our H-34 many miles hard on the wind under 110% geona alone, and find the tendency to round up when heeled hard is to some extent counterbalanced by flying the jib alone. Because I carry no storm sails (Chessapeake sailing only) this is the last resort upwind sailplan before going to motoring. Double reefed main and 110% balance better, but the 110 alone is fairly efficient and adequate when it is time to reduce sail even farther. I would never attempt to sail in heavy air with a jib larger than our 110.
I don't really think you can overstress the rigging as a result of sail selection. However as stated before, you can end up with a dangerously unbalanced sail plan. That said, I have sailed our H-34 many miles hard on the wind under 110% geona alone, and find the tendency to round up when heeled hard is to some extent counterbalanced by flying the jib alone. Because I carry no storm sails (Chessapeake sailing only) this is the last resort upwind sailplan before going to motoring. Double reefed main and 110% balance better, but the 110 alone is fairly efficient and adequate when it is time to reduce sail even farther. I would never attempt to sail in heavy air with a jib larger than our 110.
uncomfortable genoa
Just this weekend, we went out in wind higher than we' normally consider "fun". We, my wife & I, sail for fun, not to prove ourselves. But, we had enthusiastic guests, wind was ofshore, so we took a ride. With 6 in cockpit, it was easier to roll out some jib instead of dealing with main and reefing. On top of previously mentioned handling problems, we wound up with some pretty heavy oscillation of forestay/pumping of mast. Put it away, and motored in. I'm sure the reefed main is the preferrable last sail up on my fractional 35.5. A lazy jib only may be OK in less than 18 or so, but not in 25.
Just this weekend, we went out in wind higher than we' normally consider "fun". We, my wife & I, sail for fun, not to prove ourselves. But, we had enthusiastic guests, wind was ofshore, so we took a ride. With 6 in cockpit, it was easier to roll out some jib instead of dealing with main and reefing. On top of previously mentioned handling problems, we wound up with some pretty heavy oscillation of forestay/pumping of mast. Put it away, and motored in. I'm sure the reefed main is the preferrable last sail up on my fractional 35.5. A lazy jib only may be OK in less than 18 or so, but not in 25.
Storm Jib
If you do not have a storm jib, get one. Sailing without a storm jib on board is an accident waiting to happen. 40+ mph winds will generate waves too big for your motor and won't give you enough control. I have been in many situations like this especially in my 30' and 35' boats. You will be amazed how well your boat can sail in a storm with the proper sail.
If you do not have a storm jib, get one. Sailing without a storm jib on board is an accident waiting to happen. 40+ mph winds will generate waves too big for your motor and won't give you enough control. I have been in many situations like this especially in my 30' and 35' boats. You will be amazed how well your boat can sail in a storm with the proper sail.
depends
A lot depends on which way the wind is going. If I'm going to weather I'd choose a reefed main alone because the jib alone would tend to cause me to fall off. On the other hand if I'm running I'd choose a storm jib, because the main alone would tend to want to round me up. (In other words, a jib alone upwind will cause excessive lee helm, while a main alone downwind will cause excessive weather helm.) We spent two days last summer running in gale force winds and 14-18 foot following seas with a 50% jib alone, and had the ride of a lifetime. During one 24-hour period the gps showed that we'd averaged 9.5 knots, this on a 410 with a hull speed of 8.25 knots. Kowabunga. The best discovery was that the autohelm 7000 was able to handle the boat under those conditions.
A lot depends on which way the wind is going. If I'm going to weather I'd choose a reefed main alone because the jib alone would tend to cause me to fall off. On the other hand if I'm running I'd choose a storm jib, because the main alone would tend to want to round me up. (In other words, a jib alone upwind will cause excessive lee helm, while a main alone downwind will cause excessive weather helm.) We spent two days last summer running in gale force winds and 14-18 foot following seas with a 50% jib alone, and had the ride of a lifetime. During one 24-hour period the gps showed that we'd averaged 9.5 knots, this on a 410 with a hull speed of 8.25 knots. Kowabunga. The best discovery was that the autohelm 7000 was able to handle the boat under those conditions.
Thanks
Appreciate the information.... the responses confirmed what I was thinking.... always nice to get others prospectives... THANKS!
Appreciate the information.... the responses confirmed what I was thinking.... always nice to get others prospectives... THANKS!
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