I am considering purchasing a storm jib for my Std rig 1978 C-27 to use when sailing in winds of 20 knots or more. I expect the jib will be more manageable in high winds, and I will be able to sail pretty much normally, albeit slower. I have a single reef main, but the problem I have is with the jib when tacking - the bow gets pushed off the wind, and the jib sheets get impossible to crank in (and I get a little banged up). Another (Pearson) sailor suggested that I would be better off with a double-reef main. He thought I would not have any power with a small jib. Does anybody have any experience with this on a C-27? I read Peter's post (http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=20&sku=2006208154523.99&id=412371&ptl=Storm%20Jib&id=412371), and it was helpful. However, I want to know if I will get use out of the jib in 20 to 30 knot winds. I have an 85% jib now, and it has been tremendous help for handling winds up to about 20 knots and reducing weather helm. This is evidently contrary to most people's expectations of a sloop rig. It sounds like a storm jib would be about 60 or 70 square feet.
Quasi Storm Jib
- Thread starter DaveW
- Start date
- Status
Double reef
Dave, if I were you I'd go with the double reef first. When I sail on SF Bay or the Coast, I rarely use the storm jib, but frequently double reef. It will also be cheaper than having a storm jib made. My boat has "single line reefing", which means I can toss in or shake out a reef in about 30-45 seconds from the time I make the decision, without leaving the cockpit. (Try to do that if you want to change down to a storm jib!) With the single-line setup, I reef frequently because it's easy to do so. My most-used jib is a club jib, that is probably a little larger than your 85. When I'm outside the Delta and don't need the easy/speedy self-tacking feature of the club, I use it as a normal jib, and rarely is it too much sail with the 2nd reef in. 20-25 knots is very comfortable.
Dave, if I were you I'd go with the double reef first. When I sail on SF Bay or the Coast, I rarely use the storm jib, but frequently double reef. It will also be cheaper than having a storm jib made. My boat has "single line reefing", which means I can toss in or shake out a reef in about 30-45 seconds from the time I make the decision, without leaving the cockpit. (Try to do that if you want to change down to a storm jib!) With the single-line setup, I reef frequently because it's easy to do so. My most-used jib is a club jib, that is probably a little larger than your 85. When I'm outside the Delta and don't need the easy/speedy self-tacking feature of the club, I use it as a normal jib, and rarely is it too much sail with the 2nd reef in. 20-25 knots is very comfortable.
Reconsider
OK, thanks Peter. It sounds like I will need to research if a storm jib will be what I need.
OK, thanks Peter. It sounds like I will need to research if a storm jib will be what I need.
Storm jib unnecessary
When we had our C22 (1982-1987) on SF Bay, all we had was a 110 and a main with a single reef. We'd move the fairlead cars back to Open up the jib, throw a reef in and sail. On our C25 (1987-1998) we had both a 110 and an 85 and two reefs in the main. We never used the second main reef. The 85 and the single reefed main sufficed in the summer high winds. On our C34 (1998 to date) we have a 110 which we use in the winter and a 95 which we use during the summer, with two reefs in the main. In 10 years I've used the second main reef only twice. The first reef in the main is usually "in" from April to September!
A storm jib is unnecessary for sailing around here, your 85 and reefing the main as much as you feel you need to do will work. The "driver" on your boat is the jib, since it's a masthead rig.
When we had our C22 (1982-1987) on SF Bay, all we had was a 110 and a main with a single reef. We'd move the fairlead cars back to Open up the jib, throw a reef in and sail. On our C25 (1987-1998) we had both a 110 and an 85 and two reefs in the main. We never used the second main reef. The 85 and the single reefed main sufficed in the summer high winds. On our C34 (1998 to date) we have a 110 which we use in the winter and a 95 which we use during the summer, with two reefs in the main. In 10 years I've used the second main reef only twice. The first reef in the main is usually "in" from April to September!
A storm jib is unnecessary for sailing around here, your 85 and reefing the main as much as you feel you need to do will work. The "driver" on your boat is the jib, since it's a masthead rig.let me ask it again this way
It might be more interesting if I put my question this way: If reducing the jib from 100% to 85% made 15-20 mph winds much more comfortable and manageable, what size jib should I use for 25-35 mph winds? I don't care about going fast, but do want to make headway. I could be all wrong, but I haven't felt the main has been overpowered. I usually luff the main when going to weather or on a reach. I can't do that with the jib because it just pockets up and takes on more wind.
It might be more interesting if I put my question this way: If reducing the jib from 100% to 85% made 15-20 mph winds much more comfortable and manageable, what size jib should I use for 25-35 mph winds? I don't care about going fast, but do want to make headway. I could be all wrong, but I haven't felt the main has been overpowered. I usually luff the main when going to weather or on a reach. I can't do that with the jib because it just pockets up and takes on more wind.
Luffing the main is called a fisherman's reef
and flogging it for any extended kinda time isn't really good for it. 25 to 35 kts? This is where apparent and actual wind come into play. If you have a wind speed onboard, then those figures are apparent and are higher than actual since you're moving into the wind on a close haul or close reach. We've sailed here with our 110 and full main in races in winds up to 26 apparent. Others in the same boat and in the same race were using their 130 jibs with full mains. I don't recommend it for recreational cruising. Given your location in Antioch, you're sailing in the same waters we do, and I wouldn't go out if it was blowing 35 actual without either one darned good reason to do so or without a storm job OR a triple reefed main, in fact, in those conditions I would opt for only one sail to slow down and maintain control of the boat. Couldn't go upwind much in those conditions, and downwind would use just the jib (could get away with an 85 downwind). Even here, and especially on San Pablo Bay, it'll be the waves that'll getcha. As mentioned in a recent Latitude 38 reply to a fellow with a catamaran in Vallejo, you do need to "work your way up" in conditions so you get familiar with your boat and its characteristics, rather than doing these "what ifs" about sail selection in projected conditions. Take it a step at a time and before you invest in more sails, figure out what works for you, which will require going out in some gnarly conditions with what you have. Looking out the window, this might be a good week for just that!
and flogging it for any extended kinda time isn't really good for it. 25 to 35 kts? This is where apparent and actual wind come into play. If you have a wind speed onboard, then those figures are apparent and are higher than actual since you're moving into the wind on a close haul or close reach. We've sailed here with our 110 and full main in races in winds up to 26 apparent. Others in the same boat and in the same race were using their 130 jibs with full mains. I don't recommend it for recreational cruising.
Given your location in Antioch, you're sailing in the same waters we do, and I wouldn't go out if it was blowing 35 actual without either one darned good reason to do so or without a storm job OR a triple reefed main, in fact, in those conditions I would opt for only one sail to slow down and maintain control of the boat. Couldn't go upwind much in those conditions, and downwind would use just the jib (could get away with an 85 downwind). Even here, and especially on San Pablo Bay, it'll be the waves that'll getcha. As mentioned in a recent Latitude 38 reply to a fellow with a catamaran in Vallejo, you do need to "work your way up" in conditions so you get familiar with your boat and its characteristics, rather than doing these "what ifs" about sail selection in projected conditions. Take it a step at a time and before you invest in more sails, figure out what works for you, which will require going out in some gnarly conditions with what you have. Looking out the window, this might be a good week for just that! - Status