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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Sail Choice in Strong Wind

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Poky
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/23/2013 : 07:55:37

Hi all.

This was our first year on our FK/TR and we have learned a lot and had a great summer. Thanks to all who contributed single hand safety tips this past fall. I have installed almost every recommendation and they have performed fantastic.

Now that fall is here the winds have picked up in North Idaho. I'm interested in your ideas about sail choice in stronger winds. I see some people with only Main, others with only Jib. I single hand a lot and have 3 hank on jibs (90,110,150). I have Lazy Jacks and a jib downhaul. So far, I have only used the main in stronger conditions and she seems to be well balanced and sail comfortably.

Is there a technical preference for better balance and safer single handing?

Thanks!

Paul Pimentel
85 C25TR FK #4926
Bayview, Idaho
509-475-4479 cell/text

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 09:19:21

Generally, the preference, for balance, is to raise both a mainsail and a jib. On a masthead-rigged boat, like a C25, a jib provides most of the forward-driving power, and the mainsail helps the boat point to windward. If you sail on the mainsail alone, the boat is likely to be fairly slow, but it will still be able to point to windward. I sailed my TR C25 on mainsail alone in winds that I estimate were above 25 kts, and, in that much wind it made good speed and was easy to handle. You can also sail on jib alone, but most people find it difficult to sail to windward and to tack if the jib is smaller than about a 130. An overlapping headsail has some of it's sail area aft of the Center of Lateral Resistance, and that sail area serves the same function that a mainsail would serve, i.e., helping the boat point to windward. Think of it in this way: the mainsail tends to push the stern of the boat to leeward, and the jib tends to pull the bow of the boat to leeward. When combined, the boat has a balanced sail plan. There's nothing wrong with sailing the boat on one sail or the other, and most of us do so on occasion, but the choice of sail depends on whether you want to sail downwind all the way, or whether you want to sail to windward, and it also depends on the strength of the wind.

Because a tall rig C25 has more sail area than a standard rig, you will want to reduce sail area earlier than a standard rig. The tall rig is great in the light air that we sail in most of the time, in most locations, but when the wind is blowing hard, it is a bit more tender.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Is there a technical preference for better balance and safer single handing?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> A sloop is designed so that it will perform its best with a balanced sail plan, including a mainsail and a jib, but when you are out sailing for pure pleasure and relaxation, you might not need it to perform to it's highest ability. Whatever works in any given set of circumstances is your choice.

When you are singlehanding, it is always challenging to raise and lower sails when nobody is there to steer the boat while you are handling the sails, but there are techniques that you can use to make it easier. It helps, of course, to have the halliards led to the cockpit, where you can reach them without going forward to the mast. Failing that, it helps if you are fleet of foot and have exceptional balance. A tiller tamer or similar device will also help, by keeping the boat on course a bit longer. An electric autohelm is a great help to a singlehander.

I always raise the mainsail first, then put the boat on a course approximately halfway between closehauled and a beam reach, and then I set the tiller tamer, and go forward to raise the jib. On that course, a tiller tamer will hold the course fairly reliably. To take the sails down, I reverse the procedure.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 09:48:37

I have a 135 furling jib and often sail under the jib alone. I would say the jib provides 80% (or more) of the power for my boat and it will sail within a half knot of the speed it would achieve using mainsail and jib just using the jib. (Did I mention I have a blown out mainsail?) If I am going to sail for more than two hours I usually raise both as the boat is noticeably more stable with both deployed. I haven't noticed any real problem with tacking as long as there is 3 knots or so of wind. Less than that and I would probably just jibe. If the wind pipes up you can furl the jib to depower. My boat can barely get out of its own way under mainsail alone.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 09:55:39

My 130% performed well alone on blustery fall days... I couldn't point quite as high, but we were usually sailing to nowhere in particular. It definitely gave more drive than the main alone, with much less heel because its area (and center of effort) is much lower. Big gusts were non-events.

We had a roller furler, so the genny alone meant we pulled one string and were sailing; pulled another and we were all wrapped up. Of course tacking the main is simpler than the headsail, particularly with guests aboard, but on a large body of water, that might not matter much.

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Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 17:41:47

I have tried both and Im not sure but in strong winds you may be able to beat better but I found it hard to get the speed to make it through the tack. I think here is where I like the furled jib, pull a little out put a little in depending on wind. Having a little seemed to balance out the boat. in strong wind I found with too much jib out the wind would grab the front and push you off wind.

So when I get the furler working well I love it and when it jams I wish I had a hank on :)

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 17:50:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Poky
 I see some people with only Main, others with only Jib. I single hand a lot and have 3 hank on jibs (90,110,150). I have Lazy Jacks and a jib downhaul. So far, I have only used the main in stronger conditions and she seems to be well balanced and sail comfortably.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In general, for me Confetti sails better under a headsail alone than under a main alone. But it depends a lot on the point of sail you are on.

When I single hand in stronger winds, I generally use my 110. Its harder to make good headway close hauled, but on anything off the wind from a close reach down to a run, it is nice when the wind is about 15. I just accept I cannot point quite as high as with a main and jib together. Your jib downhaul will make it easy for you to douse it.

When the breeze is 15 or less, my 130 is perfect. Also works great at higher winds when further off the wind. I like to be slightly "under canvassed" when solo rather than over canvassed....

If your main is loose footed, the boat will also sail acceptably on main alone if you ease the outhaul a lot.... Hard to point, but its an easy combination to use. You also have better visibility for traffic forward than with a jib if your headsails are cut low.

A lot will depend on what point of sail you will be on when you are out single handing. Try the 110 and then try the main alone and see which works best for you!

Chuck

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