[Public-List] Sails and Wind Speeds -- What do you do ?

[Bill Wallace via Public-List]

I reef my main at some point depending on direction/wind speed, by 22 kts I usually have a double reef in, set at the position of a normal 3rd reef - that is, very heavily reefed main, and partially furled jib (I sail with a 120% all the time).  I don't like removing the main entirely as I find it interferes with coming about - with just a jib, when you come about, on the transition side I found I was going very deep before building up enough speed to resume progress properly.  When racing or in any other short tacking situation, that results in losing a lot of ground.
The other reason I prefer to roll up the jib some is that it makes the physical work of tacking easier - the main can just be left alone, or perhaps the traveller adjusted only, but it isn't critical, and if you jib is rolled to 80% or so, then it comes across very easily and is much easier to tighten to the correct position.  It is also less stress on the sail itself in that position because the total stress on the sail is lower (although I admit that the sail has some additional tension along the foot and leech in less re-inforced positions, and the luff is not as clean is it should be).
If you do that, don't forget to move your sheet leads forward - a rule of thumb is to draw a line from the middle of the actual luff of the sail as rolled (eg tack to head positions of the sail where it meets the forestay).  The goal is to make the sail fly at top and bottom and just start to luff at the same time as you go upwind. 
Bill. 

    On Friday, May 20, 2016 8:45 AM, Jonathan Bresler via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
 

 In another thread Don Campell described a bit of when he changes sails
based upon wind conditions

"My experience has been that one can sail with a full sized main and an
LP150 up to about 15 knots and have the boat under good control. I use a
main and LP135 up to about 22 knots and whether I reef the main is
dependent upon the course set and wind direction. and with winds higher
that, I take down the main and still sail the 135. How the waves develop in
Lake Ontario will determine the comfort of the ride. If we take out guests
, or non-sailors, or want an easy day, I will use the LP135 from the start,
and I always sail with a full main on those days."

Which might be summed up as:
calm to 15kts: main and 150LP genoa
15kts to 22kts: main and 135LP genoa, possible reef(s?) in main based upon
relative wind angle
22kts to ??: 135LP genoa only

What do you do ?

-- 
Jonathan M Bresler
S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
Annapolis/Eastport MD
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