So the summer is near and I am thinking about my O'Day 23.... and wondering. I am thinking about a roller furler and it occurred to me that a benefit of the roller might be that I can sail on just the jib if I want to be lazy. Sometimes due to weather, availability of crew etc do you sail with just the main, or just the jib. I have sailed with just the main when I have been with my wife and she just wants to enjoy a quick sail and not have me running up front to rig the jib. The boat sails OK if I do not get too close to the wind. The speed and pointing are effected but for a simple "let's go and enjoy the sunset" it is fine. I have never sailed with just the jib and was wondering ... have you done it? How does the boat handle? Any advantages of just the jib versus just the main? Any significant difference if going upwind versus downwind? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences. James S/V Bognor Limey O'Day 23
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Sure!
We do it all the time, mostly downwind however. Sailing with just the jib on a downwind stretch, no need to rig a preventer for the main or pay alot of attention to prevent an accidental jibe when wing on wing. It sure makes for a relaxing sail.
We do it all the time, mostly downwind however. Sailing with just the jib on a downwind stretch, no need to rig a preventer for the main or pay alot of attention to prevent an accidental jibe when wing on wing. It sure makes for a relaxing sail.
us too..
we sail with jib or genoa alone quite often. Love the way the boat sails that way, and yes there is no fighting both sails when down wind. We sail at 6 1/2 knots on the jib alone down wind this past weekend. You gotta love a Tampa Bay sea breeze in the afternoon.
we sail with jib or genoa alone quite often. Love the way the boat sails that way, and yes there is no fighting both sails when down wind. We sail at 6 1/2 knots on the jib alone down wind this past weekend. You gotta love a Tampa Bay sea breeze in the afternoon.
Just the Main
James, I've tried sailing with just my Gennie and it's okay for sailing out in open water on my 222, but for all around maneuverability, my Main sail is 10 times better. I can get better control with my Main sail in tight areas, sailing between obstacles, or shooting moorings and docks. With that said; I just installed a CDI Roller Furler on my boat and I'm looking forward to using it this year. I had my Gennie converted over at Thurston Sails, and it appears that they cut a little off the foot and made it a little more up-swept. I think that this is going to make a big difference in visibility. I feel the same way as you do about sailing with just my Main. If the wind is good, I don't mind traveling a little slower while being able to have a clear view of what is out in front of my boat. Most of the time I'm trolling a lure for Stripers or Blues, and I may have to de-power the sail to get a good trolling speed. On a couple of occasions, I sailed under bare poles with the wind behind my boat, and she sailed straight down the river while answering to the rudder. If I want to get somewhere fast though, I raise my Gennie and between the Main and Gennie, that boat flys. Now, all I have to do, is let off the furling line and pull the sail out. No more going forward and un-bagging the sail and raising it. Anchoring was always a hassle with the Gennie in the way. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have an autopilot all these years. Of course, the pointing ability of a furling sail isn't going to be as good as what I had before, but I think that it's a good compromise. Smooth Sailing. Joe
James, I've tried sailing with just my Gennie and it's okay for sailing out in open water on my 222, but for all around maneuverability, my Main sail is 10 times better. I can get better control with my Main sail in tight areas, sailing between obstacles, or shooting moorings and docks. With that said; I just installed a CDI Roller Furler on my boat and I'm looking forward to using it this year. I had my Gennie converted over at Thurston Sails, and it appears that they cut a little off the foot and made it a little more up-swept. I think that this is going to make a big difference in visibility. I feel the same way as you do about sailing with just my Main. If the wind is good, I don't mind traveling a little slower while being able to have a clear view of what is out in front of my boat. Most of the time I'm trolling a lure for Stripers or Blues, and I may have to de-power the sail to get a good trolling speed. On a couple of occasions, I sailed under bare poles with the wind behind my boat, and she sailed straight down the river while answering to the rudder. If I want to get somewhere fast though, I raise my Gennie and between the Main and Gennie, that boat flys. Now, all I have to do, is let off the furling line and pull the sail out. No more going forward and un-bagging the sail and raising it. Anchoring was always a hassle with the Gennie in the way. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have an autopilot all these years. Of course, the pointing ability of a furling sail isn't going to be as good as what I had before, but I think that it's a good compromise. Smooth Sailing. Joe
Ahoy Neighbor
James, My OD25 is an identical set up to your 23. In fact, if your boat is the former Emilia Quimby I had an interest in buying it just before I got my 25. My mooring is not to far from yours. I sail with the genoa-only quite a bit. We also do sunset sails and depending on the amount of effort I want to put out I will sail with the main only or jib only. Joe is correct in that the boat is easier to handle under a main only rather then jib only set. Having the boat driven from its mid-point rather then pulled from the front, that would make sense. But my experience, with a roller furling and the afternoon/evening southerlies blowing up Narragansett Bay its almost to easy to just pull the sheet and let the genoa fill 2/3 or all the way and let her go. See you out there. Fair winds. Tom NTYC O'Day 25 Camelot
James, My OD25 is an identical set up to your 23. In fact, if your boat is the former Emilia Quimby I had an interest in buying it just before I got my 25. My mooring is not to far from yours. I sail with the genoa-only quite a bit. We also do sunset sails and depending on the amount of effort I want to put out I will sail with the main only or jib only. Joe is correct in that the boat is easier to handle under a main only rather then jib only set. Having the boat driven from its mid-point rather then pulled from the front, that would make sense. But my experience, with a roller furling and the afternoon/evening southerlies blowing up Narragansett Bay its almost to easy to just pull the sheet and let the genoa fill 2/3 or all the way and let her go. See you out there. Fair winds. Tom NTYC O'Day 25 Camelot
One sail
I sail with the main only on rare occasions; when the wind is up and I have guests aboard who don't like to heel and we want a very controlled ride, or if the wind pipes up suddenly and I already have a reef in the main and the genny is already rolled up to working jib size. She sails with just the main, but not fast. I sail with the genny alone when I need to go dead downwind. Much easier than trying to steer precisely so that both sails behave. However, I usually find that it is more efficient to sail downwind on a running reach with main and genny (jibing over to the other tack when necessary) than to sail dead downwind with the genny alone. It is also usually more comfortable on a reach, as sailing dead downwind usually makes the apparent wind on the boat close to zero, and on a hot day, I like a breeze. Reaching gives me that feel of a breeze, the boat moves faster through the water, and I like the feel of lift from the keel and rudder. That being said, there are times when its nice or necessary to sail dead down wind, and I use the genny alone for that.
I sail with the main only on rare occasions; when the wind is up and I have guests aboard who don't like to heel and we want a very controlled ride, or if the wind pipes up suddenly and I already have a reef in the main and the genny is already rolled up to working jib size. She sails with just the main, but not fast. I sail with the genny alone when I need to go dead downwind. Much easier than trying to steer precisely so that both sails behave. However, I usually find that it is more efficient to sail downwind on a running reach with main and genny (jibing over to the other tack when necessary) than to sail dead downwind with the genny alone. It is also usually more comfortable on a reach, as sailing dead downwind usually makes the apparent wind on the boat close to zero, and on a hot day, I like a breeze. Reaching gives me that feel of a breeze, the boat moves faster through the water, and I like the feel of lift from the keel and rudder. That being said, there are times when its nice or necessary to sail dead down wind, and I use the genny alone for that.
Thanks to all and Hey Neighbour
Thanks to all for your insights. I look forward to spending time continuing the learning process - just as soon as I get the boat in. Regardless I agree with Mike's comments about the feel of the boat under sail..... Since it's all just fun and I'm not really going anywhere the sound of the water - the feel of the wind, the vibrations of the tiller and having the boat pick-up on each puff ...... They're the reasons I'm out there just mucking about in boats or as Rat said ... There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. - Water Rat, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows So Tom, hey neighbour .... where are you moored? I am on number 33 on the Barrington side (east) of the channel. I expect to launch towards the end of May ... but as soon as possible: work (read travel) gets in the way. No my boat was not the "Emilia Quimby" --- It came from New Bedford where I moored for a few years, the story of how I got the boat is .... wonderful but for a different time. I've been in Bullock's Cove for a couple of years. I'll look for you out there; I used to work at TI in Attleboro and worked with Bob Chesterfield who I understand was a member of NTYC - what can I say except that he will be missed! Cheers to all and thanks again. James
Thanks to all for your insights. I look forward to spending time continuing the learning process - just as soon as I get the boat in. Regardless I agree with Mike's comments about the feel of the boat under sail..... Since it's all just fun and I'm not really going anywhere the sound of the water - the feel of the wind, the vibrations of the tiller and having the boat pick-up on each puff ...... They're the reasons I'm out there just mucking about in boats or as Rat said ... There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. - Water Rat, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows So Tom, hey neighbour .... where are you moored? I am on number 33 on the Barrington side (east) of the channel. I expect to launch towards the end of May ... but as soon as possible: work (read travel) gets in the way. No my boat was not the "Emilia Quimby" --- It came from New Bedford where I moored for a few years, the story of how I got the boat is .... wonderful but for a different time. I've been in Bullock's Cove for a couple of years. I'll look for you out there; I used to work at TI in Attleboro and worked with Bob Chesterfield who I understand was a member of NTYC - what can I say except that he will be missed! Cheers to all and thanks again. James
I'm at #95
James, I'm at Mooring #95 on the west side of the channel. I hope to put her in soon as well. She didn't go in at all last summer due to extensive travel. Bottom paint, bottom paint, bottom paint. I'll keep an eye out for you. Sadly yes, Bob will be missed. Fair winds. Tom NTYC O'Day 25 Camelot
James, I'm at Mooring #95 on the west side of the channel. I hope to put her in soon as well. She didn't go in at all last summer due to extensive travel. Bottom paint, bottom paint, bottom paint. I'll keep an eye out for you. Sadly yes, Bob will be missed. Fair winds. Tom NTYC O'Day 25 Camelot
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