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sailing w/genoa only?

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KevinC
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/04/2007 : 19:13:38

Has anyone tried sailing in heavier air (20+) with the jib only and no main?

I have heard of this being done, but haven't tried it myself.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 19:51:49

I have not tried this myself in heavier air. I am guessing that the 250 would not handle it very well as it would not be balanced very well. That big flat hull seems to want to go sideways when the sails are not balanced right. I do know that I have to keep a bit more jib out than expected in higher wind, just to balance a reefed main. Cut back on the jib (roller furling) and the boat goes sideways. I once tacked 50 times into a blow going home, jib was in too much, main reefed, and it just wouldn't point at all.

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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
842 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 22:07:40

I haven't tried it, but I've seen other boats doing it.
It seems they usually sail main only upwind and jib only downwind.
I agree with Turk, I don't know how well a C250 would sail.

Russ #793

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2007 : 08:36:07

Here is an interesting account of sailing under foresail only. During my 2002 summer cruise to the Great Lakes... the weather had been bad for sailing with a combination of a lot of rain days and two gale wind days there hadn't been much sailing. On the second to last day of the cruise and following two days of thirty something gales, winds subsided to the mid twenties.

We had been holed up in the Les Cheneaux Islands waiting out the gales to cross North Lake Huron back to Michigan's lower peninsula. At sunup with forecast of mid twenties winds for the day, I decided to go for the sixty five mile passage southeast to Presque Isle Harbor on lower Michigan's NE tip with a west wind and five footers.

We broke out of the island chain under double reefed main and full jib and as soon as reaching clear air was overpowered on the broad reach and broached. After hauling in the jib, we broached again under double reefed main only. I dropped the main and we sailed for twelve hours under varying amounts of jib sometimes as little as 30 percent holding a steady speed between 5-5.5 knots.

I helmed the whole passage without a break as the auto pilot couldn't handle it and the crew was inexperienced. I've large strong popeye arms from years of construction work handling a heavy power saw and while they stood up, they were exhausted at the end of the day. It was during that run that I decided a better wheel ratio had to be fitted.

I believe the most important point to remember is that once hull speed is reached, further loading on the jib could overstress the forestay... hence why speed was restricted to 5.5 knots.

So... yes, there will be conditions that might warrant head sail only but use some caution to keep speed below hull speed.

btw, under double reefed main only in the five foot swell on a broad reach... the helm was literally a bear. Only slight mis timing of getting the helm vaned to the following sea would see the boat thrown into a broach. The helm was much better under the jib only and perhaps equated to a mountain lion. Following that cruise, the helm was converted to open cables with twice the steering ratio and has been tamed.

After much thought of that run, if those conditions exist again, I will try to tow a couple of stern warp lines and see if the double reefed main can work... as it would allow driving the boat fully and safely to hull speed and beyond... yeehaw

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 05/05/2007 20:20:32

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2007 : 15:31:24

Kevin, you pretty much describe the situation we found ourselves in last year, rugly to say the least.

As Arlyn described, the helm was a beast that did not like taming, bow was all over the place, but that was pretty much during the higher winds, below 15knts wind and it was quite manageable.

We're just back from a weekend trip, I'll post obs for the event.

Paul

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Jarrett Anderson
1st Mate

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61 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2007 : 11:53:18

I sail with the Genoa only on days when I am too lazy to put up the main. I see boats on the S.F. bay with head sail only all the time.

As you will read in other threads it may be a mast tuning issue if the boat does not handle well with Genoa only.

I don't think the 250 is a big enough boat (lbs.) to really handle well, with 30+ winds an 5 foot seas with any sail arrangement. I know I am much more confident in a 10,000lbs.+ boat in these conditions.

Jarrett_/)

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