"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Since it is harder to change headsails with a roller rig, I've found that
sail plan and size is more important than I've heard discussed.

My E32 came with big 150% Genoa on the theory that it would do everything.
The problem was that, when rolled up to the size appropriate for the
typical strong wind, it lost too much shape and had too much bulk rolled
on the head stay for the boat to go to windward well. I therefore had to
carry a working jib in case I was ever faced with a long beat to windward
and go through the whole swapping routine. Changing headsails on a roller
rig is harder not just because of the foil set up but because a "do
everything" roller Genoa has to be of heavier cloth to stand up to the
strains when reefed and the rolling. Add luff foam and leach sun cover
and It makes for a big bulky sail bag and hard work bagging on the
foredeck.

I had my new headsail built last winter cut to 135% size with a very high
clew. The latter feature makes sailing in congested waters vastly more
enjoyable and safer at a performance penalty I would only notice in a race
with an identical boat. The area reduction means that the sail will still
have decent shape when reefed down to size for 20 - 25 knot winds. I
really haven't noticed any performance difference with the full sail plan
that I can tie to the reduction in overlap.

I no longer carry the working jib although I will put it back on board for
any long trips that might involved long beats in 25 knot plus winds. I
used to change jibs a couple times a month as different weather systems
went through but, no more.

The E32 is a bit on the tender side so these sizes are not a guide to all
boats. If you are ordering a new roller headsail, figure out the jib size
for winds in the low 20's and tell your sailmaker to make the full size
such that you will still have decent shape when rolled down that amount.

My boat came with a nearly new Profurl system which has been entirely
satisfactory and easy to use. The foil cames with two grooves so
theoretically you can hoist one sail before you lower the other as I have
several extra halliards. This is fine if you have a full crew for racing but
I sail with just my wife for crew and all halliards are led back to the
cockpit so there is a bit too much for two to do when changing headsails
even though we have an excellent Simrad pilot which counts as a third member
of crew on board.
In my previous boat I have had my fill of being well offshore in a storm,
trying to unhank a foresail , get it down the fore hatch instead of
overboard and then trying to hank on a storm jib, so for me the roller is
the way to go..
All the foresails that came with the boat from 150% mylar genny down to the
storm jib have been fitted with bolt 'ropes' that fit the foils so even
changing to the storm jib would be a hassle and involve visiting the
foredeck.
.. Luckily, in addition to all the racing sails I have a nearly new Mack
130% foresail which was built specifically for furling and sets beautifully
however much it is furled so it is the only foresail I use.