I am sailing a 2001 H 260 water ballast. Wind today was 20-30 mph. The main was reef and jib at 30%. We were still overpowered. I do not have a second reef point in the main but could adjust the jib. Can you let me know what YOU do in bigger winds? Do you ever sail with just the jib or main alone? Any other advice? Thanks "VEGA"
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Dale Wile
Call it a day...
Drop the sails and motor back to port. The boat is not very stable and not under full control with just one sail. Given one choice or the other, I have had the best success with jib only. Dale Wile Sandpoint, Idaho
Drop the sails and motor back to port. The boat is not very stable and not under full control with just one sail. Given one choice or the other, I have had the best success with jib only. Dale Wile Sandpoint, Idaho
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Alan
blowing in the wind
It's very exciting to sail the boat in 25 knot winds, but not much fun for the non-sailing crew. The reef that comes with these boats is actually what would be considered a second reef point in larger vessels. As mentioned the boat is somewhat unbalanced with only one sail up, but not too difficult to control. You will find that sailing close to the wind becomes very slow and painfull when the sail area is greatly reduced because of higher winds. This is in part due to the high freeboard which competes with the reduced sail area for moving the boat. The ballast is neccesarily higher in the hull and therefore the righting moment is less so the sail area must be reduced further than deep keeled boats when close to the wind in a breeze (tender,that is it heels more). I have used either reefed main or head sail alone when reaching in a blow and am not sure which is better. The head sail with roller furler can be greatly reduced in area, furled quickly if needed, and you won't notice if it jybes. However, it will give you lee helm (spin you like a top when control is lost), can jam, and will not go to wind if furled more than 30% or so. The main when reefed will go to wind (slowly), gives weather helm (anoying but safer than lee helm), and looks nicer. If you jybe the main in a blow you can damage the boat and demast. You could also kill someone with the mainsheet or boom. In 20 knot winds with no experienced crew or when children are aboard you are probably best off droping sail and motoring. Don't forget sails will not last as long when subjected to higher winds. Then again this is a sailboat. alan
It's very exciting to sail the boat in 25 knot winds, but not much fun for the non-sailing crew. The reef that comes with these boats is actually what would be considered a second reef point in larger vessels. As mentioned the boat is somewhat unbalanced with only one sail up, but not too difficult to control. You will find that sailing close to the wind becomes very slow and painfull when the sail area is greatly reduced because of higher winds. This is in part due to the high freeboard which competes with the reduced sail area for moving the boat. The ballast is neccesarily higher in the hull and therefore the righting moment is less so the sail area must be reduced further than deep keeled boats when close to the wind in a breeze (tender,that is it heels more). I have used either reefed main or head sail alone when reaching in a blow and am not sure which is better. The head sail with roller furler can be greatly reduced in area, furled quickly if needed, and you won't notice if it jybes. However, it will give you lee helm (spin you like a top when control is lost), can jam, and will not go to wind if furled more than 30% or so. The main when reefed will go to wind (slowly), gives weather helm (anoying but safer than lee helm), and looks nicer. If you jybe the main in a blow you can damage the boat and demast. You could also kill someone with the mainsheet or boom. In 20 knot winds with no experienced crew or when children are aboard you are probably best off droping sail and motoring. Don't forget sails will not last as long when subjected to higher winds. Then again this is a sailboat. alan
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Bill Thiers
Main alone is best...
on our H34, when we go out in a strong breeze and want the sail to be less than an adventure. She's slow and unexciting, but sometimes that's what we are looking for. Or I should say, what my daysailing guests are more comfortable with. I'm cool with that. Genny alone powers her along better, and even goes to windward well; but she heels a lot more.
on our H34, when we go out in a strong breeze and want the sail to be less than an adventure. She's slow and unexciting, but sometimes that's what we are looking for. Or I should say, what my daysailing guests are more comfortable with. I'm cool with that. Genny alone powers her along better, and even goes to windward well; but she heels a lot more.
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Scott Blahnik
I've tried both also
on my 270, which is about the same boat as yours and had serious trouble with either. I'd say 15-20 knots will be my maximum in the future ( due to the crew complaints). Weird, it seems we all like the high winds but nobody wants to sail with us in them.
on my 270, which is about the same boat as yours and had serious trouble with either. I'd say 15-20 knots will be my maximum in the future ( due to the crew complaints). Weird, it seems we all like the high winds but nobody wants to sail with us in them.
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Ken Cobb
More reefing?
Is it possible to have a second reef point sewn into the H260 mainsail, or is the existing reef point so high that nothing further can be done?
Is it possible to have a second reef point sewn into the H260 mainsail, or is the existing reef point so high that nothing further can be done?
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Ron Mehringer
More reefing
On this forum I've seen a number of people who write about adding a second reef point. I believe they all put it 3' above the first. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
On this forum I've seen a number of people who write about adding a second reef point. I believe they all put it 3' above the first. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
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Jeff Davis
We did it
We added an additional reef point on our 240 a couple of months ago. Any sail loft should be able to do it. I think it cost about $150. Haven't had a chance to use it yet, though.
We added an additional reef point on our 240 a couple of months ago. Any sail loft should be able to do it. I think it cost about $150. Haven't had a chance to use it yet, though.
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Ray Bowles
I added the higher reef point on my 95 H26.
The original reef point in the Doyle sail my 26 came with was about 7' up and is considered a second reef point by most sailors. I added another reef about 4' above that point and it is considered a third reef. I will now refer to these as the 2d and 3d. This weekend we were in 15 to 20 mph winds with gusts to 30mph and 3' waves. We started out with the second reef in and about 50 to 60% jib on a roller furling and I found I was over powered for my comfort level on a close haul. We then went to the 3d reef point (my newly installed reef point that would be the 2d on that Doyle sail) and it was much better but I had a very hard time balancing the jib to that mailsail setting. Without the jib I lost a great deal of steering stability, but by that time the gusts were frequent and changing direction. We then rolled in the jib and reversed direction and headed home. The mainsail with that 3 reef in was a pleasure to sail down wind and very quick. The additional higher reef point is a very good idea especially if you have a distance to travel to get secure harbor. Up wind, I will probably motor until I get a lot better and know my boat better. Ray
The original reef point in the Doyle sail my 26 came with was about 7' up and is considered a second reef point by most sailors. I added another reef about 4' above that point and it is considered a third reef. I will now refer to these as the 2d and 3d. This weekend we were in 15 to 20 mph winds with gusts to 30mph and 3' waves. We started out with the second reef in and about 50 to 60% jib on a roller furling and I found I was over powered for my comfort level on a close haul. We then went to the 3d reef point (my newly installed reef point that would be the 2d on that Doyle sail) and it was much better but I had a very hard time balancing the jib to that mailsail setting. Without the jib I lost a great deal of steering stability, but by that time the gusts were frequent and changing direction. We then rolled in the jib and reversed direction and headed home. The mainsail with that 3 reef in was a pleasure to sail down wind and very quick. The additional higher reef point is a very good idea especially if you have a distance to travel to get secure harbor. Up wind, I will probably motor until I get a lot better and know my boat better. Ray
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