Heavy Wind Sailing on Oday 25

[geehaw]

I was wondering what other Oday 25 owners use for sail configuration in winds over 25 MPH? Last weekend I was in winds of 25 mph gusting to 35. I got into them with full sails, #3 jib full main, I managed to get the main down and sailed with just jib. Sailed ok felt balanced speed was only 4.5 to 5 knots.But I was trying to go up wind and I felt as far as the wind on my face and sail placement that I was close hauled. But I made no forward progress. Track on gps showed I gained about ten feet forward after making two tacks of mile and a half each. Unfortunately I had to get back in and didn't have a chance to try other sail configurations.

 

[gladys]

did you try reefing the mainsail?

 

[Pat]

I would try reefing the mainsail and just using or furling to around 100 percent headsail..maybe less...reefing the main on my 272 just makes all the difference in the world...along w/the reduced headsail....the object is to keep the boat happy, not heeling so far over there is an unintended part of the hull in the water....

 

[cb32863]

I have a 1977 25 and sailed in the conditions you mention last season. My head sail at that time was a 100, have a new to me 145 now, and I had the main reefed. Sailed fine with that config. As a rule of thumb, I believe most 25 owners start thinking reef above 15 and definitely when you get to 20+.

 

[geehaw]

Ok Thanks! I will try reefing next time in those condition.

No Glady's I didn't try to reef I had a very hard time turning the boat to just get the main down. I got it down and just tried the jib to see what happened.

Pat I don't have a furler just a 100 and a I believe a 130 jib. I was using the 100 (#3).

Like I said I had to leave so I was asking this to give me a starting point next time I see these conditions. This is only my third season sailing. I am doing much better. I didn't sail last year because of lack of money, But had this happened my last sailing season I would have been in a panic because I was heeled over so far with both sails up. But this time I wasn't panicked but since the boat would not turn up wind so I could get the sails down I was trying to figure out what to do. I even tried to sail with both sail fully up for a bit. But the boat was not making any speed and was very uncontrollable.

The winds are so variable where I sail that it can be a problem. It was kinda funny, here I was in these high winds and when I got nearer to the shore I had to start the motor to turn around and tack back because there was absolutely no wind.

Well next time I will try the 100 jib and a reef and see what happens Thanks all! Greg

 

[RichBone]

True 25+ kts I would be thinking double reef and storm jib (60 to 70%). Next step would be dropping the main (unless you have a third reef).