[Public-list] A30 Staysail

[Gordon Laco]

Hi Phil - 

We use a staysail - I have played around with it a lot and would be pleased
to tell you our preferences...

Ours is a high clewed little number that we originally planned to set on the
spinnaker pole topping lift whose block we placed on a fairly massive hound
about 3' above the spreaders.  My plan was to have the lift double as a
staysail halyard.  If we like the effect of the sail we intended to build a
massive deck pad eye (with an underdeck wire lanyard and turnbuckle bringing
the load to the stem).

We still may do that but in the meantime we have found that the sail works
well as a spinnaker staysail.  We sheet it to the forward inside jib tracks;
we hoist it on the #2 genny halyard and tack it to our jackline between the
cleats forward.  Works great - my son and his buddy who do foredeck for us
call it "the weapon" as in "secret weapon".  The two headsail halyards were
a little tough to organize so I fell back on an old fashioned technique I
have installed on clients' boats.  We shackled a single block with a becket
on the existing block hanger, then hung a single block on the becket.  That
way we have out two blocks with the added advantage of having the unloaded
halyard holding the upper or #1 block stable. Works great.

I think now that for extreme conditions the staysail would be a good thing
but for now we use it for racing.

And may I gloat among friends?  We took a second in our annual Snake Island
race last Wed. night - got squeaked out of first by a hair.   We seem to
have to old girl really cranked up this year - we are deadly in light
air/flat water conditions.  Still can't point like I would like to but that
may come later.  The only thing we can think of that has made a big diff is
A) really good foredeck work this year  B) I paid more attention to standing
rig tuning (thanks for the info on this list)

Cheers - Gordon KC426 Surprise









> The A30 sail plan shows a staysail with a halyard attached to the mast just
> above the spreaders. Does anyone have experience with this sail? Is it used as
> a smaller foresail during windy conditions or is it used in combination with
> the jib?
> 
> It seems to me that this sail would be useful for reducing sail, especially
> now that so many boats are equipped with roller furling genoas that never set
> properly when reefed. Simply set the staysail and roll up the genoa
> completely.
> 
> 
> Phil Bartlett, Windward #428
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