Headsail sizes.

[rays]

When we bought the boat (40' Jeaneau) last year the headsail was in place and we sailed her to the River Orwell from the Solent. Once we got her hame we started investigating the lockers and found a new sail which has turned out to be a brand new (unused) headsail some 6' longer in the foot than the one which was on the furler originally. We have now put the larger one up. I don't know the exact sizes but presume the smaller is 105/110% and the larger 1140/150%? We are yet to try out the larger sail but I began thinking what most people have? Some articles suggest that 140% is fine for the Med but too large for home waters. What do people with furling headsails (most of us?) have and what are their experiences?
CD

 

[Athene V30]

It depends what you want. The bigger the % the better in light winds but would need to be reefed sooner than a smaller % sail and be less useful in stronger winds.

I have a 110% on the furler as it is OK when reefed away (with foam luff) to use to windward in a F5 - 6 without being too baggy. After that I would hoist a storm jib on the inner forestay.

I would guess with a 140% you would find it gettig quite baggy as you roll it away and not being much use to you in moderate to fresh winds.

 

[MoodySabre]

I think that my genoa is 130% which is standard. I spoke to another Moody owner who had bought a 150% thinking it would give him more oomph but he said it just meant that he had to reef earlier. I'm sure someone here or a Jeaneau agent can tell you what is normal kit and was presumably chosen to suit the boat.

 

[flaming]

Ah, it seems you are suffering from the usual cruising sailor's disease of assuming that the roller furling on your Genoa means only one sail should ever be used!

Why not decide which sail is more suitable for each given day?
So if it's light winds put up the bigger new sail, but if you're faced with a long beat into 20 knots the smaller sail would be more suitable. This can all be done in harbour before you leave, so I'm not suggesting bouncing around on a wet foredeck.

Sure you'll have a little bit more work to do, but you'll get the advantage of having your sails last longer if they're kept to the wind strength they're designed for as well as better speed in the light stuff (so less reliance on the engine) and better pointing with the smaller sail compared to a part rolled larger one.

 

[DRANNIE]

with my hank on sails I have a choice of an enormous No.1 which goes to its own set of blocks in the back of the cockpit, a sensible No2 and a 3 blade. If the weather is light but likely to freshen i have the light one on and the No2 tied to the rail, and vice versa. You might consider having a twin foil set up on your roller reefing to give you extra options on a very light day. your big No1 is likely tol be of a lighter contruction than your working jib so it likely to suffer wear more quickly if you use it as your main headsail on the roller.

 

[roly_voya]

Main reason most people don't put 150% genoas on rollers is the dont furl well. If it is cut to come down to the deck it should be goo in light wind but will probably not roll smaller than anout 110% before loosing its shape. A hgh cut 110-120% will cover a much bigger range but as flaming says 2 will be better than one and choose the sail for the forcast. If you have never tried sailing with arange of headsails it is hard to believe the difference it makes but sails cut properly for the conditions really transform the experience of sailing in mod/heavy going.