Gordon wrote:

So I'm going to a roller furler jib for cruising.

A good choice I think, assuming you can afford a good one
and proper installation.

... What size would be best?
120, 135,150, etc!
Gordon

What size(s) do you normally carry?


Evan Gatehouse2 wrote:
It depends on your cruising area, and the times of year you sail.

I'd say the default answer is a 135 but for Chesapeake Bay or LI Sound
in summer cruising, a 150. For San Francisco Bay, 115 or 120...

For offshore cruising, I'd lean towards 135 but without knowing more
about your boat or plans, nobody can offer much advice


Right on... I like Phil Bolger's discussion along the same
lines, wherein he's asked how big a headsail some boat
should have, and he then asks how hard the wind is going to
blow.


Ryk wrote:
Since the numbers are calculated as LP/J*100, it also depends a lot on
the rig design, ranging from small foretriangle fractional rigs to
older masthead boats with a huge J dimension and a short boom. A 135
is a small sail on the former and a great big sail on the latter.

Good point. The Yankee 30 is a masthead, with large but not
extreme J dimension. I'd lean toward a larger genoa for
normal sailing and a staysail for the heavy days.


My
boat fits into the latter category and I would probably choose about
110 for cruising comfort and ease of tacking, then hoist a spinnaker
off the wind if it isn't blowing.

Go see your sailmaker for advice based on local conditions, type of
boat, and the kind of sailing you want to do. It's usually free...


A good sail inventory is a basic necessity, and I don't mean
large numbers of blown-out racing sails. It's amazing to me
how many people are cruising with crap sails. But then,
diesel fuel is still relatively cheap....

A cruising spinnaker, a 120 or 135 (depending on where & how
most sailing is to be done, I might even go to a 145 but
then I like to go fast) on a roller, and a staysail, would
be a good set-up.

Fresh BReezes- Doug King