Bart wrote:
....

About racing sails... not sure if I've told this story before.

Some years ago, I had a no-longer-competitive Lightning jib
that I gave to my cousin for his keelboat. It was a good
size for a storm jib and that's what he wanted to use it
for. It stayed in a bag under his V-berth for some years,
then we met up for an autumn cruise.

The weather was windy, we had several days of 20+ knot winds
and one very memorable day of 45 knot winds & 15 foot
breakers. This was around Martha's Vineyard. Anyway, we
decided to rig the Lightning jib as a storm staysail. On a
broad reach, it did just fine, we flattened it as much as
possible by sheetng it to the rail instead of further
inboard. Then we had to change course to a close reach, and
the boat was a bit overpowered plus yawed more in the waves.

This sail was in quite good shape other than being just
enough blown out that a Lightning could not point as high as
other tuned-up racing Lightnings with it... poor sail
withstood about 20 minutes on this course, including perhaps
7 or 8 brief intervals of flogging.... then it just blew
apart. The panels seperated all at once then blew themselves
to shreds.

Lesson- regardless of the size or condition of the sail, get
something made of heavier cloth for a heavier boat!

DSK