Sail on, sail off

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Sid R Ballantyne

Only 2

I only use my Main and a roller furled Genoa. I don't own a spinnaker but would like to. I am a little afraid of them though. I am a self trained sailor and have never used one but they sure are beautiful to see flying. I will be replacing my sail inventory soon. I plan on purchasing a genoa with a foam luff.
 
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Kris

3 here

Main, jib and genoa. Nice to have all 3 but not totally necessary.
 
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John

2 Mains, 2 #3s, 1 #2, 1 #1, and a 3/4oz. chute.

The sails that get the most use are a full battened main and a number 2 headsail on the furler. I use this combination for most sailing in my area. My extra main is not fully battened and is a general purpose main that sits in the garage. One number 3 is fully battened and also sits in the garage. I always carry the regular #3 and the #1 on the boat as well as the spinnaker. On a recent sail down the coast to San Diego I had the occasion to use every sail on the boat except the #3. My exhaust elbow salted up and I melted the plastic aqualift so had to sail almost every inch of the last thirty miles as the late afternoon/evening breeze dropped from 16 to 1 and 0. Thank God for my inflatable and a 3.5 Nissan outboard. As we sat in the entrance channel to San Diego Harbor slatting around I got the inflatable ready to tow us in. My wife said why don't you push us so I did at 3.4 knots the last 2 miles into the anchorage. I like to singlehand race so my sail inventory does get used. Catch you all down stream. John
 
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Barry Sanders

Off the beach schooner rigged trimaran .

My off the beach schooner rigged trimaran that's 20 foot long and twenty foot wide carries both skipper and crew trapezing from the outer edge of a wing that is outboard of the amas has on incredible range of sail options ! Standard rig is two equal ( Hobie 17 )mains carried as fore main and aft main on two 31 ft masts and a ( Hobie 18 ) jib carried as an inner jib from the foremast to to centre of my 7 ft bowsprit .Both the mains are sheeted on 8 ft wide travellers ( one across the centrecase and the other across the stern ) . My options from there are to carry two more ( Hobie 18 ) jibs , one as an outer jib from the foremast to the end of the bowsprit and the other as an aft mast staysail from the aft mast hounds to the base of the foremast . THis sail will have to be partially lowered during tacking and jybing to allow the free passage of the foremain boom . All these jibs are sheeted on tracks going out 10 ft from centre on the front and rear cross beams on each side of the boat and will allow these jibs to be sheeted on hard all the way around to a beam reach . That's only the windward working sails !! When we come off the wind further down than a beam reach , asemetrical jennakers from each mast will replace the jibs and take us all the way down to a broad reach from where the boat will tack down wind because the VMG to leeward will be much better than dead running . I also have a third main cut down to 2/3rds size to use as an aft main combined with a full size formain and no other sails so that I can sail the boat solo from the fore trapeze in our 25 knot " sea breezes ". Check out this boat at multihullboatbuilder.com under the project name of HOPIE 20 . Cheers from down under , Barry Sanders .
 
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BILL ROBB

Don't forget asymetricals!

Like most "cruising" sailors, I fly a main and a 150% roller genoa for most conditions. I have a smaller jib for winds over 20 knots - but I have to know the winds will be that strong BEFORE I leave my slip so that I can change it there. I don't do foredeck work in a real breeze unless it is out of necessity! I also use an asymetrical for downwind work and it is easy and fun to fly. More sailors should use it - they shouldn't be intimidated by the large size. BILL on STARGAZER
 
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Rick Klein

Performance vs Passion

This topic just doesn't generate the interest as other topics, like choosing a boat name or dreaming about the ideal boat. Where's the passion? Where's the fire? What's important in a boater's life. Truth is, sails are mundane expanses of cloth. The real fun of owning a boat is naming it and filling it up with personal gear. Now, if we could paint our sails or decorate them the way we wanted, then they would take on a whole new meaning. How about it. If you could change the shape, color and design of your sails, what would they look like? Pastel curtains, glow in the dark stripes, devil heads or Mad Max rags? Or would we stick with plain white cloth with a few numbers and letters glued on? Any manufacturer willing to tackle this issue? Honestly, the most important thing is to enjoy your boat, no matter how many sails you do or don't have. Just get them up.
 
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Patrick Petracca

Sails on board

On my Catalina '22 I have only the orginal main and a roler-furled 150. On my '25 I have a new Ullman main, the original 100 & 150 and a spinnaker (used only during racing). I mostly sail single-handed so my 100 is well used. I prefer not to make a sail change when by myself, but if I have a crew, I don't hesitate to keep them busy on the fordeck!
 
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Don Rogers

My sailing options

We have a cutter rig so we generally sail with the standard sails. However we do have a Genie that we do use during the light air days of the summer. The big problem is getting it to come accross when tacking due to the stay sail stay. So if we are going to be sailing in close quarters where there will be a lot of tacking I will remove the fore stay and lash it one of the shroud wires. This makes tacking and sailing a breeze. Changing sails while under way is generally not considered as most of the time we just day sail. Adding to that, most of the time with just my wife and I on board, it is a little problematic. I have done it but prefer not to when I have a choice.
 
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C. Isaacson

Sail Inventory

Sail Inventory: Main, Light #1 Genoa, Heavy #1 Genoa, #2 Genoa, #3 Genoa, storm jib, spinnaker staysail, two .75 oz chutes, 2 .50 chutes. Regularly use all but storm jib and spinnaker staysail due to variable wind conditions in San Diego area.
 
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Dick Carey

Main, Furled Lapper (110), & APC Spinniker

WE ahve Main (293 SF), a furled 110 Lapper (253 SF) and an APC Asymetrical Spinniker. For crusing that all works well for our needs. Dick Carey S/V Puffin H-33.5
 
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dunvegan

HMMMmmmmmm?

we have a working jib,mainsail and a 150 genoa. we want to get a storm jib and a main with more than one reefing point.
 
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Keat Pruszenski

Working plus Genoa

I have a 100% and a 150% Genoa for all my needs, since I cruise and don't race.
 
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Mark

Nineteen

Don't usually carry 'em all at the same time. Three mains: light, heavy and light short-hoist. Six foresails: light and med-heavy 155%, heavy 160%, 140% mule, 145% lapper and 90% storm jib. Six spinnakers: big and little 1/2oz, new and old 3/4oz, big and little 1 1/2 oz reachers. Four specialty sails: drifter, big and little staysails, and a blooper.
 
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Roland Amador

Options

On my CT 38, set up as a Cutter, but hardly sailed that way, I do local cruising with a 135% Genoa (furling) and a main with 3 reefs, a Try sail and an Inner Stay Sail. Also, have a #4, #1, a storm jib and a spinny. Those mostly stay home when I cruise S.E. Asia. On long passages I would take them all.
 
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James A Hepp

sails for Paceship 23

Main ,roller furling 150, 100 jib not used ,storm jib( roll up the 150 all the way and put the storm jib on differit halyard for heavy wheather ), Plus a colorfull cruising spinnaker which is seldom used. Before the days of roller furling we would change sails under way quite often.
 
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Todd Alt

I have places to go

I have 6 sails, but I only carry the heavy Genoa on the furler, and the Main. The two spinnakers, jib, and other light air Genoa stay at home in the basement. I don't race and I have no hesitation to use the diesel.
 
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Frank Ladd

Only 2 too

I have a single main that has no battens and no headboard so it goes up and down easily on any point of sail. I lost some power by eliminating the roach so now I reef it at 12 to 15 instead of 10 to 12 knots of wind. I had my 110 % genoa cut down to 97% and set it up to be self tacking and vanging. This makes sailing the boat really easy. It also make heaving to really easy; just sheet the jib to the center and lash the tiller to leeward. I've considered getting an MPS or Assym spinnaker or a gennaker, but right now the boat sails beautifully in 5 knots and if there is lees wind than that it is usually too hot to be outside.
 
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Lloyd Montgomery

Hank on's rule

Having owned boats with roller furling as well as boats with hank on sails, I much prefer the hank on sails and changing sails with differing wind conditions. I carry on the boat, Main, Jib, 155 Genoa, Storm, and Geneker. We usually do at least one head sail change every time we are out on the water.
 
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Jack Page

have five use two

Although i have a full sail inventory i rarely(never) use more than two. A factory main and a hanked on 110 percent genoa. If conditions isisted that a sail change is needed the sails are there. I inspect them pre-season, bag them and thats where they stay. With two small children on board, going out in a blow is not an option.
 
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Gary

Good selection

I have: 2 mains (1 is an old spare at home) working jib (used infrequently soon to be cut smaller) 97% blade (used in 18 - 25 knots of wind) 2 x 120% Genoas (one old spare, the other used all the time) 1 x 140% Genoas (light airs racing) 1 x small gennaker (cruising chute) 1 x small spin (training/chicken racing chute) 1 x big spin (racing chute) Except for the old sails and the working jib, I use all the other regularily. I think the blade replaces the working jib. I would like a smaller headsail (cutting the working jib) for even heavier airs. My boat, a Ranger 26, can easily be over powered if the headsail is two large and is easily beaten around the cans if it is too small.
 
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