Laser Pico Jib Sail

[Styve]

Hi all.
Looking for help and advice on the Jib sail.
I bought a Laser Pico last november and took it to Coniston.
Had a great sail, but did end up in a squal and could have done with losing some sail.
I found info on the web for fitting a cleat and a pulley to lower the jib sail into the well at the front.
So, I have fitted an extra cleat next to the existing one, I believe later boats had them.
But I find when I rig it up, the line is not taught as there is slack now having the pulley?
Would it still work ok? or am I missing something.
I did think about raising the eye, on the mast, but then realised you cannot because it sticks out a gap in the main sail.

 

[CM74]

The block for the jib halyard is huge! A much smaller block would take up less space there, or perhaps just a shackle? (Moused so it doesn't come undone of course)
Doing away with the spring clip attaching the sail to the halyard and just tying it on would also shorten the run a little - hopefully the two together would make up the distance

 

[dunedin]

The block for the jib halyard is huge! A much smaller block would take up less space there, or perhaps just a shackle? (Moused so it doesn't come undone of course)
Doing away with the spring clip attaching the sail to the halyard and just tying it on would also shorten the run a little - hopefully the two together would make up the distance

Good suggestions. Could possibly use a low friction ring rather than the block (need to lash on carefully with string thin line to work well). Holt 20mm High Load Low Friction Ring/Eye
Also ensure the bottom of the sail is as close to the bottom fitting as possible.

 

[Styve]

Thank you guys.
My intention is to be able to drop the sail whilst sailing.
I see later boats have an extra roller clamcleat on the bottom of the mast where the cunningham lead goes. Goes I'm not sure on how the top is rigged?
There is not a lot of info on the net about this?
Your suggestions would help, I'm also strugglingt o find a smaller roller?
I could forget the idea, as this was an incidence when I was on Coniston and a squal came up the lake and I needed to reduce sail but was stuck for a while....
You obviously cant reef the main sail or wrap it with the jib hooked in.

 

[dunedin]

Thank you guys.
My intention is to be able to drop the sail whilst sailing.
I see later boats have an extra roller clamcleat on the bottom of the mast where the cunningham lead goes. Goes I'm not sure on how the top is rigged?
There is not a lot of info on the net about this?
Your suggestions would help, I'm also strugglingt o find a smaller roller?
I could forget the idea, as this was an incidence when I was on Coniston and a squal came up the lake and I needed to reduce sail but was stuck for a while....
You obviously cant reef the main sail or wrap it with the jib hooked in.

Lots of small pulley blocks (not roller) available - eg here Full Selection of Plain and Ball Bearing Blocks, from Trident UK
However the best choice depends on how it can be attached - and unfortunately your photo crops off the attachment point at the top of the sail. A couple of photos of close up to the top attachment point (head), and the one at the front corner (tack) would help give a specific suggestion.
Are you a member of a sailing club in the Lakes as they might be able to offer advice. The Lakes are beautiful, but as you have seen they do suffer from gusty and variable winds due to the surrounding hills.

 

[PhilCole]

Hi all.
Looking for help and advice on the Jib sail.
I bought a Laser Pico last november and took it to Coniston.
Had a great sail, but did end up in a squal and could have done with losing some sail.
I found info on the web for fitting a cleat and a pulley to lower the jib sail into the well at the front.
So, I have fitted an extra cleat next to the existing one, I believe later boats had them.
But I find when I rig it up, the line is not taught as there is slack now having the pulley?
Would it still work ok? or am I missing something.
I did think about raising the eye, on the mast, but then realised you cannot because it sticks out a gap in the main sail.

If you go sailing that in the garden on a windy day, you could quite easily take your wife’s knickers with it!

 

[Mark-1]

The jib on a pico is tiny and the ones my kids sail are just tied top and hooked bottom. There's a tiny amount of power from them but their main purpose is to give the child crewing something to do.

It will do no harm at all to let such a tiny sail flap during a squall and as you say the jib prevents the main being reefed, so if it's too gusty you're better of with no jib in the first place.

If you really want to be able to drop the jib, personally, I'd just put the "halyard" through the loop riveted to the main with no block. You won't be raising it often, so the "halyard" isn't going to be worn out. If you go down this route I'd just use the existing kicking strap loop to tie the halyard off. It'll slightly foul the sail sleeve, but shrug.

You can probably tell, I think it's not worth the bother.

Enjoy the Pico, I love them. Bullet proof boats that thrive on abuse and can be sailed one or two up. Wise choice. (And everyone knows the yellow ones are fastest. )

 

[William_H]

The jib luff must be tight for proper sail function. I would think that despite comments the jib would make working to windward much easier. I think worth having.
Now I think on your boat that a main sail that is in the form of a sleeve that the mast slides through and the mast is self supporting. No stays like a laser. The jib is simply attached to the mast through a hole in the sleeve.
So yes the jib could be hoisted or dropped while sailing provided if you had enough room for the sheave at the top to still get luff taught.
If you can't get luff taught with a pulley fitted then you would have to shorten the jib luff. (sail maker) Typically however when sailing hard on the wind the mast would bend backwards under pressure from main sail and sheet so jib luff might tighten up as needed.
If however you are concerned about squalls while sailing then far better to reduce the area of main sail. Simplest is by reducing area of main sail permanently
(smaller main sail) or by reefing.
Reefing could be difficult involving changing the main sail to slugs into a channel or track on the back of the mast. Then fitting a deep reef with eyelets at clew and tack. Then all the necessary ropes to enable the sail to be reefed. (including a main halyard) All a bit OTT.
When you get more experience you may be able to simply cope with squalls better. In the mean time just be careful and arrange possible rescue or at least be skilled at righting the boat. ol'will

 

[ylop]

The jib luff must be tight for proper sail function. I would think that despite comments the jib would make working to windward much easier. I think worth having.
Now I think on your boat that a main sail that is in the form of a sleeve that the mast slides through and the mast is self supporting. No stays like a laser. The jib is simply attached to the mast through a hole in the sleeve.
So yes the jib could be hoisted or dropped while sailing provided if you had enough room for the sheave at the top to still get luff taught.
If you can't get luff taught with a pulley fitted then you would have to shorten the jib luff. (sail maker) Typically however when sailing hard on the wind the mast would bend backwards under pressure from main sail and sheet so jib luff might tighten up as needed.
If however you are concerned about squalls while sailing then far better to reduce the area of main sail. Simplest is by reducing area of main sail permanently
(smaller main sail) or by reefing.
Reefing could be difficult involving changing the main sail to slugs into a channel or track on the back of the mast. Then fitting a deep reef with eyelets at clew and tack. Then all the necessary ropes to enable the sail to be reefed. (including a main halyard) All a bit OTT.
When you get more experience you may be able to simply cope with squalls better. In the mean time just be careful and arrange possible rescue or at least be skilled at righting the boat. ol'will

His post is almost 2 yrs old... so hopefully he solved it - but the normal way to reef a sleeved dinghy sail is to wrap it round the mast. On a Pico this forces you to first remove the jib, which I believe is actually the crux of the question. They weren't really designed with this flexibility in mind - most Pico sailors being close enough to shore that they decide the sail plan before going afloat.