Capt. JG wrote:


Good point about the PFDs. The only times they're not required to be worn on
my boat is when the person is below or the boat is at dock or anchor. My
insurance is pretty picky about it.

Just curious about why you didn't use the jib on the roller (assuming you
had one from your comment). I don't usually reef mine, since it has quite a
high foot and is less than 100%, but I do sometimes. We typically sail in 15
to 25 with higher gusts.


Good question, JG.

We are a small boat.

My roller jib is 135%, which is great in moderate winds, but way too big for
cruising in 20-25 (we were not racing today! - conserve the sails and rigging!)

A jib slightly under 100% would have been perfect today.
We would have been able to point higher, and probably gone faster too.

For me, it's about time to choose a path and go that way.

I have a brand new main from Mariner Sails in Dallas.
(First time I've EVER had new sails! - and I like it!)

We (me and my sail maker) have been discussing sails in general -
and my needs in specific. I want to wander off down the Intra-Coastal, with
maybe a jaunt out to the Bahamas (or Cuba, if it opens up!)

So I'm not looking at staying in my home waters.
And I understand that wandering off has the possibility of encountering
that weather stuff. Pick your window, sure, but you have to deal with the
results.

*ALL* of the sail makers that I've asked about this have agreed...
"Reefing" a roller *furling* jib will (underline the Will part) cause the
jib to bag out unevenly.

Unless the sail is specifically built for it - ie: has extra reinforcements at
the furled (rolled) points, the cloth will stretch where it's not supposed to.

My current jib is probably 18 years old - and absolutely shows where it has
been partially rolled in the past. There are three distinct "scallops (for
want of a better term) that coincide with the places where it would be "furled"
for heavier winds.

Anyway, what to do about it all?

Accept the distortion as a cost of convenience?

Or set up with proper sized hank-on sails?
(yes, I do understand that jibs on the roller can be changed - but!)

I have an asymmetrical spinnaker for light air reaching and running.

If I go with hank ons, I would add to that:

A 135% genoa for close reaching and beating to weather.

A 100% working jib for winds up to 20 - 25.

A smaller staysail - 50%? - but set further aft on deck for 25 - 35 mph.
(along with a storm trisail for a main). The staysail would bring the fore
sail's moment aft - closer to the mast (where it belongs), rather than being
all the way forward. Way better balance, and proper gap between fore and main!

And the trisail alone for 30-40.

Above that, I'd have to fess up that I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time
and hope there is sea room down wind to heave to.

With the roller?
I've already learned that I can't reliably roll up the jib in 35 mph winds
without lighting off the motor and heading up. It doesn't take but a minute
and probably less than a 1/8 mile of room, but that's the deal with the roller
in high winds. Will I *always* have the time, room, and motor?

The roller is convenient - if you don't get caught in too big winds.

The hank-ons give the best match to the wind conditions when it blows, but a
bit more work involved.

Now, for what it's worth, most of my sailing is single handed.
Convenience is pretty important.
But so is sailing performance.


I'm still leaning both ways at the same time...

Trying hard to make up my mind - one way or the other...

'Cause I really need a new jib to go with this beautiful main!

Richard