Mini Main

[25yearslater]

So as I continue with the fine points of sail trim, the wind is howling with gusts to 30. This has been what seems nonstop this year. Rather than reefing everytime I head out the old mainsail sitting in my basement is inviting me to have it reduced to 50% of it's original size and buying a 50% jib for these high wind days. Why you may ask not just reef? It's a hassle and the reefed main doesn't perform like a normal main. My intent is to depower the rig, especially up high, while maintaining the balance without a whole lot of screwing around. It should open up a whole new set of sailable days if this is even remotely feasible.

 

[CalebD]

Sounds like a reasonable idea to me.
Seems as though a storm trisail and storm jib are normally proscribed for heavier winds but having a set of smaller sails for high winds makes sense to me.
The only caveat is that sails like the trisail & storm jib are usually made of heavier fabric than "regular" weight sail cloth.
I also wonder if you have a roller furling jib/genoa and plan on having a smaller jib to match? If you use hank on jibs you are probably covered for higher winds.

 

[Don Guillette]

Presently, I'm in William's,AZ (Grand Canyon area) at a KCBS BBQ competition event and have taken a break to check in on the forum.

Personally, I've never heard of such a thing as you're proposing but what do I know. Why not use your sail trim controls on the main and jib to depower both sails. First, induce as much twist as you can in both sails. If that doesn't work, then use your sail trim controls to make both sails as flat as possible. If that doesn't work then roll up or take the jib down. If that doesn't work then reef the mainsail. I wouldn't waste my money on what your proposing.

Let's see what RichH thinks?

 

[25yearslater]

Thanks Don. I have been practicing with what you have recommended since reading your book. This does seem to be doing the trick. We were able to have a nice sail yesterday with the ability to power through the chop and at the same time keep the boat from heeling excessively. I use hanked jibs as I'm a bit of a purist for using an appropriate sail for wind speed and point of sail. I like the options the cloth weights offer. Thanks again.

 

[Scotty C-M]

Lots of boats carry different weights of sails, especially jibs. #1 jib, #2, #3 etc. It is less common to carry multiple mains, but it used to be more common, and on larger boats.

 

[RichH]

A half sized mainsail is fairly common in the North Sea and Baltic. Usually cut down to the first reef and used during the 'windy' season. Could also be cut to the second reef.

BTW - the common name for this configuration: Swedish Mainsail.

 

[25yearslater]

Thanks Rich. My main reasons for considering this are: The idea of reefing as the rule rather than the exception seems counterintuitive. It's only a 10 minute sail change for the low wind days. Two is I have an extra main so why not experiment with keeping the power down low and see how it effects the balance. Don't know why the wind is the way it is this year which is higher than usual and from the North and Northeast which causes quite a chop that maximum power is needed for going to windward while keeping it lower than usual. For the in between days Don's twisting off is sufficient and is working quite well considering if the wind is dropping the whole main is going to be needed. The jibs are an easy change. Strange year this year so far.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Reefing should NOT be a chore. While the Swedish main has some advantages, I would suggest that changing mains is gonna get pretty tiresome soon.

We have two seasons here: winter, light winds; and the rest of the year. We keep what I call my "April to September" single reef in the main, and simply loosen the clew reef line at the end of the day by pulling on it enough to get it from crimping the clew of the mainsail against the boom.

We also have double line reefing, which you should consider, given your high winds. It makes reefing (pun intended) a breeze: just sail upwind on the jib, drop the traveler to luff the main and reef. If you do some research on double line reefing, you'll find it very good, since the tack hardly needs any pressure while the clew needs a lot, which makes single line reefing kinda useless. All our lines are led aft, so I do it while under the dodger.

Good luck, sounds like you're havin' fun.

 

[Don Guillette]

25yearslater: I was thinking about your situation while driving home to Tucson today from the KCBS BBQ competition at the Grand Canyon -- we didn't win any money but had a nice time and tasted some great BBQ.

A mate has to learn to deal with his boat in the full range of wind and millions of sailors world wide do so without a "cut off" mainsail even though I think Swedish girls are beautiful in cut off shorts -- was that what RichH was talking about (probably not)!!

Let's suppose it's blowing like stink -- first of all I ain't going sailing that day because my wife would nix the idea as soon as she got out of the car!! Let's also suppose I were you and had your set up and decided to go on my own, which I wouldn't. I'd have the small main and then when things calmed down I'd have to switch sails -- not me mate!! Suppose it started out as a nice day and became crappy, now I have to change sails -- not going to happen!!

Honestly, millions of sailors worldwide can't be wrong -- learn to handle your boat through the full range of wind from light air to reef and down to a bare pole. You'll thank me for the mainsail alteration money I just saved you and THANK YOU for buying my products.

 

[25yearslater]

Thanks Stu I am going to look into that. Your welcome Don. I may be just a bit timid since my last sailboat 25 years ago. I am enjoying reading and rereading your Sail Trim Guide. Yes I am having an absolute blast learning to handle this thing after the whole restoration. It is definately a whole lot more boat than my Oday 22 which makes the whole process even more fun. Thanks for putting up with me.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Nice to have you here and your questions. That's what we're here for, to b ounce ideas around and to suggest sources of great information. Heck, we wished that when we all started out we knew at least some of this stuff!

 

[marujo.sortudo]

Personally, I think a Swedish Main makes good economic sense if you live and sail somewhere where it blows like stink for several months of the year and you like sailing in that stuff (which can be wicked fun with the right boat/rig.). The cost of modifying your old main could allow you to greatly reduce the wear and tear on your new main, if this weather represents a significant portion of your sailing year, there by saving you plenty of dough in the long run. Must be why all those sailors in the Baltic that Rich mentions have one.