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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2010 : 17:50:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by steve25
 Being a newbie I have another question raised by the last post. If I'm in heavy wind or even relatively heavy wind, it it better (in general) to fly the main or jib? (assuming you only wanted one) I've sailed boats in the past that just didn't handle at all with only the jib, and others that seemed to prefer the jib and no main in a blow.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We still haven't given you a really good answer to this question.

As John said, when the conditions get challenging, you're usually better off flying both mainsail and jib, because the boat will always perform better with a balanced sailplan, however, in your question, you asked when you can get by with flying only one sail in strong winds.

The factors that you need to think about are the strength of the wind, the direction you need to sail, and the choppiness of the waters.

If you have to sail to windward in strong winds and smooth waters, such as on an inland lake, you can probably get by sailing on the mainsail alone. The boat will sail to windward on main alone, but not as fast as with both sails, although in a very strong wind, it'll have reasonable speed.

If you have to sail to windward in strong winds and choppy seas, you should use both mainsail and jib. You won't be able to sail to windward on jib alone, because, in a strong wind, you won't be able to fly an overlapping jib, and the boat won't sail to windward on a jib that isn't overlapping. The difference here is that the choppy seas will slap the bow of the boat, slowing it almost to a stop, so you'll need the drive generated by both sails to power it through the chop.

If you'll only be going downwind, in strong winds, you can use either the mainsail or the jib alone, but most people would prefer the jib, for two reasons. First, with the jib, you don't have to worry about the possibility of an accidental gybe. Secondly, if your jib is roller furling, it's easy to adjust it in or out as the wind increases or decreases. If the jib is not roller furling, you can reduce it's drive in a gust either by overtrimming it in, or by letting it way out. If you get a strong gust with the mainsail while running downwind, it's a little more difficult to kill it's drive quickly.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/01/2010 17:57:28

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 08:52:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Welcome back, Chris! Have your circumstances changed?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

New job, still not settled. I will only be on here intermittently. Thanks for the welcome!

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 13:23:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by steve25
 Yes I do have a furler. Which makes it easy to adjust from the cockpit. I've tried a double reefed main and a reefed jib, and that seems to work fine. Just wondering what the experiences are from some of the senior members. Much easier to play with the jib than dance around the deck with the main.

Not getting any younger....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm not a senior member and you'll get lots of sage(r) advice here. I just installed roller furling with a 135 and on our first weekend sailing with the new set up ago we sailed down wind 4 miles to the end of the lake in 15 to 25 knt wind, (Mostly around 20 knts, I have a mast head anemometer) Coming back we had to go close hauled and beat all the way back. We soon realized that with main and jib we were way overpowered so we dropped the main and furled up the jib to about 90% and she did fine on the way back, I was able to point well through a 2 to 3 foot chop. Is was wet and wild but I was pretty happy with how quick we got back to our side of the lake. One thing I've notice about the roller furling system is that my boat gets to hull speed pretty easily on jib alone. Since I'm just cruising my new strategy when it's about 15 knts and up is just to unroll the 135, see how she does and then from there decide on the main.

I would say if your single handing or short handed see how that works for you next time you're in a blow like that.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2010 : 15:51:58

Going Upwind: Either sail will work, 'cept the JIB is the prime mover on the masthead rig of our boats, so you'll go faster with the jib only than main only. Instead of listening to us ole coots, why not just try it sometime?

Going Downwind: I completely agree that jib only is incredibly much safer, whether you have roller furling or not. Because of apparent wind strength, you can go downwind on a larger jib safely.

Edited by - on

millermg
Navigator

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159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 15:13:59

Edited by - on

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.