Is there a forestay stress problem with just using the head sail in winds about 20-25? A friend suggests that it's not a good idea (he says use the main) because of the load on the headstay.
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Marc Honey
Reef it
Personally, I find my 28.5 is a lot more balanced and easier to sail with the 1st reef in the main and about 75% of my 130 genoa rolled out. There was a lot of discussion recently on this and another site about jib only sailing. No true concensus, lots if opinions. Safest and most balanced bet is reefed main and partial genoa furling.
Personally, I find my 28.5 is a lot more balanced and easier to sail with the 1st reef in the main and about 75% of my 130 genoa rolled out. There was a lot of discussion recently on this and another site about jib only sailing. No true concensus, lots if opinions. Safest and most balanced bet is reefed main and partial genoa furling.
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Ray Bowles
John, I recall reading about a month ago...
a couple of posts where the jib only had been used in moderate breezes and when the balance of the boat was changed by people going forward and into the cabin the bow dug in and the boat did a very impressive 180.
a couple of posts where the jib only had been used in moderate breezes and when the balance of the boat was changed by people going forward and into the cabin the bow dug in and the boat did a very impressive 180.
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Tom Lukas
28.5 Main Vs Jib
In my opinion it depends how the boat feels. I was out last weekend on a close reach, 2nd reef in main and about 50% of the Genny, the boat was balanced, went from 20 to 10 degree heel and picked up half a knot. I've also run with just the Genny out full and the boat was balanced. Usually I try to have a some weather helm, just play around with different combinations. Tom 87' 28.5
In my opinion it depends how the boat feels. I was out last weekend on a close reach, 2nd reef in main and about 50% of the Genny, the boat was balanced, went from 20 to 10 degree heel and picked up half a knot. I've also run with just the Genny out full and the boat was balanced. Usually I try to have a some weather helm, just play around with different combinations. Tom 87' 28.5
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Bill
Tune?
I bought a 28.5 two years ago and was not happy with weather helm. Never had the mast down until this year. I retuned the prebend which was off quite a bit on the upper jumpers, and then did a standard tuning. The handling is remarkable now and I can tune it to be neutral, weather helm or lee helm. Of course I use a slight bit of weather helm but really tuning it up has helped considerably. I only use the genoa alone on light days when I am feeling lazy. I have heard pros and cons to whether to do that or not but since you have a split backstay I don't think there is a problem. I know one thing and that is using the main alone is worthless. I would like to hear more on this from an expert. Where is Jim Bohart when you need him? Have a good sailing season.
I bought a 28.5 two years ago and was not happy with weather helm. Never had the mast down until this year. I retuned the prebend which was off quite a bit on the upper jumpers, and then did a standard tuning. The handling is remarkable now and I can tune it to be neutral, weather helm or lee helm. Of course I use a slight bit of weather helm but really tuning it up has helped considerably. I only use the genoa alone on light days when I am feeling lazy. I have heard pros and cons to whether to do that or not but since you have a split backstay I don't think there is a problem. I know one thing and that is using the main alone is worthless. I would like to hear more on this from an expert. Where is Jim Bohart when you need him? Have a good sailing season.
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John
Main vs Genoa
Thanks for the comments... Bill, do you have any words of advice on tuning? The manual is pretty sketchy...
Thanks for the comments... Bill, do you have any words of advice on tuning? The manual is pretty sketchy...
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Bill
In tune
John, go back to the HOW Home page. At the very bottom you will see a number of sites including one called REFERENCE which has a good explanantion of the rig and how it is tuned. It is best done while the mast is on the ground so you can get the proper pre-bend in. It sure helped once I did this. Hope this helps you out. By the way a suggestion to everybody, explore this site other than daily posts. There is a wealth of information on here.
John, go back to the HOW Home page. At the very bottom you will see a number of sites including one called REFERENCE which has a good explanantion of the rig and how it is tuned. It is best done while the mast is on the ground so you can get the proper pre-bend in. It sure helped once I did this. Hope this helps you out. By the way a suggestion to everybody, explore this site other than daily posts. There is a wealth of information on here.
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Ken Osborne
Stress
I think everyone missed the point of your question, John. I took it to be a question about flying a jib alone with no main up in very strong winds, as opposed to flying some or all of the main with no jib as it relates to the stress on the forestay. I have heard pros and cons about that as well, with no real good answer to either question. I was told by an A.S.A. sailing instructor that the headsail has only one attachment point and thats near the top of the mast. All the drive from that headsail is borne by that one little forestay connection at the masthead.With reefed main, the sail is attached to the mast from top to bottom, spreading the load on the whole mast. Seems to make sense that a reefed main, as far as stress loading goes, distibutes the load on the whole mast not just one connection point as does the forestay. Tuning and sail balance is important for how the boat sails, but what we're really talking about here, is stress on the mast. I reef main first, headsail second and balance the two. Hope this helps.
I think everyone missed the point of your question, John. I took it to be a question about flying a jib alone with no main up in very strong winds, as opposed to flying some or all of the main with no jib as it relates to the stress on the forestay. I have heard pros and cons about that as well, with no real good answer to either question. I was told by an A.S.A. sailing instructor that the headsail has only one attachment point and thats near the top of the mast. All the drive from that headsail is borne by that one little forestay connection at the masthead.With reefed main, the sail is attached to the mast from top to bottom, spreading the load on the whole mast. Seems to make sense that a reefed main, as far as stress loading goes, distibutes the load on the whole mast not just one connection point as does the forestay. Tuning and sail balance is important for how the boat sails, but what we're really talking about here, is stress on the mast. I reef main first, headsail second and balance the two. Hope this helps.
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