Looking for a knowledgeable opinion as to the pros and cons of sailing under head sail alone with a masthead rig and a 150 Genoa. The boat moves very well with only its head sail but was curious about untoward stresses without having the main up. Are there any? Thanks
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Why not ?
I have done it many times with several different boats over a few decades! I currently own a 34, masthead rigged, and frequently sail under genoa (130) or even gennaker alone. Most people are wondering about stress on the mast and rigging, and I would be curious to read Don's opinion on this, but it seems to me that the stress is not any worse than when sailing downwind under full main and genoa. People sailing in the trade winds frequently set 2 headsails and no main. Obviously, when under headsail alone, because the boat is not balanced, it cannot deliver its optimum performance (meaning speed), but one sailing under headsail alone is not necessarily after performance. Your post started with "Lazy Sailor" so I am assuming that when you do that you're just out having a good time, sailing leasurely and I say Go Ahead and Enjoy yourself. Good Luck
I have done it many times with several different boats over a few decades! I currently own a 34, masthead rigged, and frequently sail under genoa (130) or even gennaker alone. Most people are wondering about stress on the mast and rigging, and I would be curious to read Don's opinion on this, but it seems to me that the stress is not any worse than when sailing downwind under full main and genoa. People sailing in the trade winds frequently set 2 headsails and no main. Obviously, when under headsail alone, because the boat is not balanced, it cannot deliver its optimum performance (meaning speed), but one sailing under headsail alone is not necessarily after performance. Your post started with "Lazy Sailor" so I am assuming that when you do that you're just out having a good time, sailing leasurely and I say Go Ahead and Enjoy yourself. Good Luck
Headsail Only
Jeff I sailed all afternoon yesterday with just our 110 jib. Lovely. There was a discussion here about this recently, but I couldn't find it in the archives. Some people say don't ever do it because it creates stress on the rigging. Some say don't do it with fractional rigs. I say (and said back then) how can there be more stress when there's only half the sail area up there? We do it all the time, saves taking the mainsail cover off for short sails, and, if it's really windy, it's great. We come south across San Francisco Bay's dreaded Slot (25-35 knot winds on summer afternoons) with just the jib on a beam "sreamin' "reach. It's great, the boat doesn't fight back, and is well balanced. I'm sure someone else will hopefully direct you to the previous conversation about this, and add to this. Stu PS We have a masthead rig, single set of spreaders.
Jeff I sailed all afternoon yesterday with just our 110 jib. Lovely. There was a discussion here about this recently, but I couldn't find it in the archives. Some people say don't ever do it because it creates stress on the rigging. Some say don't do it with fractional rigs. I say (and said back then) how can there be more stress when there's only half the sail area up there? We do it all the time, saves taking the mainsail cover off for short sails, and, if it's really windy, it's great. We come south across San Francisco Bay's dreaded Slot (25-35 knot winds on summer afternoons) with just the jib on a beam "sreamin' "reach. It's great, the boat doesn't fight back, and is well balanced. I'm sure someone else will hopefully direct you to the previous conversation about this, and add to this. Stu PS We have a masthead rig, single set of spreaders.
Good Old Boat and Ted Brewer had a discussion...
of this a while back. It was a good discussion with lots of physics and trigonometry etc., but the bottom line is no problem unless you're sailing in a gale. But gales are not for us lazy sailors anyway. Geoff
of this a while back. It was a good discussion with lots of physics and trigonometry etc., but the bottom line is no problem unless you're sailing in a gale. But gales are not for us lazy sailors anyway. Geoff
Mast Head rig should not be a problem
Jeff, I just completed a transAtlantic on a friend's Baba 35 and we sailed many days with just a head sail or asymetrical up. Both were secured at the masthead and were designed to fly that way. But, when we flew our staysail, which was attached about 3/4 of the way up the mast, we secured the running backstays which are provided to support the mast from the same point that the staysail is attached to it. Based on what I saw, I would say the integrity of your standing rigging is fine if the head sails are anchored to the top of the mast.
Jeff, I just completed a transAtlantic on a friend's Baba 35 and we sailed many days with just a head sail or asymetrical up. Both were secured at the masthead and were designed to fly that way. But, when we flew our staysail, which was attached about 3/4 of the way up the mast, we secured the running backstays which are provided to support the mast from the same point that the staysail is attached to it. Based on what I saw, I would say the integrity of your standing rigging is fine if the head sails are anchored to the top of the mast.
Gale, fractional rigs
My understanding is that eventually, a surprise storm will catch us in gale force winds. I have already had a thunderstorm appear right ahead in about 15 minutes on a summer evening. I have heard lot's of stories of knock-downs from unexpected weather. So I view getting caught in a gale as probable over a ten year period. Ken's stay-sail comment is to the point. I genny flown on a fractional rig could result in the pumping of the mast that running backstays or a flying mainsail help to prevent. My conclusion (like Brewer's in GOB) is that flying a foresail only increases the risk of rig damage in unexpected severe weather. It's unlikely, but I have seen boats lose their mast. In both cases the skipper was caught in a stressful configuration by an unexpected event - one was a gust, and the other a big, breaking wave. Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer choice! David Lady Lillie
My understanding is that eventually, a surprise storm will catch us in gale force winds. I have already had a thunderstorm appear right ahead in about 15 minutes on a summer evening. I have heard lot's of stories of knock-downs from unexpected weather. So I view getting caught in a gale as probable over a ten year period. Ken's stay-sail comment is to the point. I genny flown on a fractional rig could result in the pumping of the mast that running backstays or a flying mainsail help to prevent. My conclusion (like Brewer's in GOB) is that flying a foresail only increases the risk of rig damage in unexpected severe weather. It's unlikely, but I have seen boats lose their mast. In both cases the skipper was caught in a stressful configuration by an unexpected event - one was a gust, and the other a big, breaking wave. Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer choice! David Lady Lillie
To answer Jeff's question with another one:
Imagine you are going to be towed at 6 knots with a tow rope tied off to your forestay as well as to one jib car or, alternatively, with a tow rope tied off to the main mast and the traveler plus the other two points. Which of the two methods, do you think, is going to put the least amount of strain on your attachment points, and thus, on your vessel? Think about this being done in flat water; now think about it again in very rough seas..... Not such a tough question to answer, I think. Finally, besides the potential squall factor risks mentioned by David, there is the easy to observe fact that anyone trying to run with one leg tied behind his or her back is neither moving powerfully and fast, nor elegantly and efficiently. OK, we are all lazy from time to time. Heck, I once let Rivendel II be blown into the harbor without ANY sail up at all. ;D Let's just not confuse that with seamanlike practices. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
Imagine you are going to be towed at 6 knots with a tow rope tied off to your forestay as well as to one jib car or, alternatively, with a tow rope tied off to the main mast and the traveler plus the other two points. Which of the two methods, do you think, is going to put the least amount of strain on your attachment points, and thus, on your vessel? Think about this being done in flat water; now think about it again in very rough seas..... Not such a tough question to answer, I think. Finally, besides the potential squall factor risks mentioned by David, there is the easy to observe fact that anyone trying to run with one leg tied behind his or her back is neither moving powerfully and fast, nor elegantly and efficiently. OK, we are all lazy from time to time. Heck, I once let Rivendel II be blown into the harbor without ANY sail up at all. ;D Let's just not confuse that with seamanlike practices. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
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