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Chesapeake Headsails

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Esteban
Navigator

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139 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/22/2004 : 13:45:33

Ladies et gents,

Question on headsail size on the Chesapeake Bay. This was my first year sailing and first year on the northern Chesapeake Bay out of Middle River. I have two head sails, a 110 jib and a 150. Without doubt I ended up using my 150 on the majority of my trips, but used the 110 on some windy but certainly the best days and most fun sailing. I have no clue what the wind speeds were - played it by ear and looking for white caps.

Ok - now Im having the marina install a roller furler. Any recommendations on what size sail to purchase for this area? I sailed over 300 miles this year per the GPS, so I did get around. 150, 135 or 110? I was kinda partial to getting a 150 thinking I could reef it to about a 130 before loosing it's shape. Oh - it's a tall rig.

Any thoughts from northern Chesapeake Bay folks?

Esteban

Esteban Diaz
Tally Ho!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2004 : 14:29:13

I'm getting a furler over the winter and having my 150 cut down to a 135 furling sail. I think you'll find that many C25 sailers prefer the 135 over the 150. I'm also having my 110 set up for the furler for the occasional weekend race. If you need to roll that 150 up when the wind picks up, you won't get any performance out of it. The 135 will give you good light air performance and furl nicely with less drag.

Incidently, North Sails, who has made all my sails, agrees.

Al
GALLIANT #5801

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5932 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2004 : 16:08:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I was kinda partial to getting a 150 thinking I could reef it to about a 130 before loosing it's shape. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The problem with that is, when the 150 is furled down to less than a 130, it will lose its shape and not drive the boat efficiently to windward, at a time when you need it most. I agree with Al that the 135 is the better choice for an all-purpose sail.

When the wind is so light that a 135 won't drive the boat, a 150 won't do all that much better.

Edited by - on

Esteban
Navigator

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139 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2004 : 16:33:18

Good point on the light winds Steve.

If I end up reefing a 135 to say, 115 - will the sail maintain good enough shape to use in strong winds of 15-20 kts? Sounds like a foam luff is a must - any thoughts on material for UV cover?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5932 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2004 : 18:11:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If I end up reefing a 135 to say, 115 - will the sail maintain good enough shape to use in strong winds of 15-20 kts? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think so. I chartered a 38 foot boat with a 135% roller furling jib, and we got caught in a fast moving, short-lived squall with about 35 kt winds, coming at us from abeam. We single-reefed the main and rolled up all but a postage-stamp sized jib, and then, when the wind kept rising we furled the main completely and continued sailing on the tiny piece of jib alone. We didn't try to beat to windward with the rolled-up 135, but, without the mainsail, the boat wouldn't have pointed very well. The jib did drive the boat, however. A big part of the problem with a roller furling 150 is that, when it's heavily furled, it creates such a big roll of fabric in front of the leading edge of the jib, that it creates air turbulence before the air gets to the jib, and that's what really hurts its power. A 135 doesn't create such a big roll of fabric.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 16:44:43

It really all depends on what you want to do with your boat, and how you plan to use it.

If you are racing, check the local fleets and find out what their maximum head sail allowances are.

If you're cruising, you most likely don't want to keep switching sails. When we had our C25 (albeit hanked on) we had an 85 and a 110. I put up what was appropriate for the expected wind conditions. If I had had furling, I most likely would have opted for a 120 which I could reasonably consider my "only" sail, except for very high winds (or for all of the summer months here in San Francisco) when I'd use a smaller 85 blade.

If you get a really BIG sail, then you'll have the problems with it described by the folks above. Too big won't get you a useful smaller sail when needed.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 17:18:16

Here's my $0.02

Although Lady Kay is a larger boat, I think the sail plan is of similar category to the 25, ie relatively short boom tall main, large working jib, overlapping. Unlike the 250 which is a large working main, with a small (relatively) jib.

So, as we do compare in that sense, and speaking from a cruising perspective, I find that the northern Bay requires ease of sailplan change (read, often) for conditions between 5 and 25 knots. My solution is, from light to heavy air, full main, 135 jib.......as the boat gets overpowered (15-20 in my case) roll the jib to 100-110 (I did have the foam luff put in, it helps a lot), 20 -25 first reef in the main, over 25 second reef the main (leave the jib alone) above 35 stow the jib and get off the bay. So, dont bother rolling the jib further and trying to sail with it, it has no shape, and just gets torqued into a big wrinkle. If you must have a jib in very heavy air, get an ATN gale sail.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618)
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - Oscar on 11/23/2004 17:19:41

Esteban
Navigator

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139 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 17:49:45

Oscar,

You make a great point on the foam luff. This sounds like a must. I've read that you really can't reef or furl a sail more than 20% before it starts loosing shape. Can I take this to include a head sail with a foam luff? Your thoughts? Anyone?

Esteban

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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.