reaching sail advice

[davehu]

On our cuter rig yacht we really need a lightweight sail for reaching instead of the standard Yankee and staysail. I am thinking about using a free flying genoa launched from a cruising chute snuffer. Envisage to sail as a flatter cruissing chute which will close reach and can be set on a pole downwind. Anyone tried it, ant problems you can see. All suggestions welcome.

 

[Salty John]

We used a drifter, hanked onto the stay. It was made of light cruising chute type material and performed well in light airs. You may need a bigger sail area in which case a hanked-on sail might not be suitable. you can see a picture of our sail here: http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/resources/Sails%20and%20sail%20handling%20on%20Adriana.pdf

 

[michael_w]

What about a Code 0? Sets flying on a furler. See here for more details.

 

[Swagman]

Yup - we've a Code 0 which is free flying on its own continual line furler. High tech materials but powerful fast sail in lighter conditions. A bu**er to furl once the breeze has got up!
JOHN

 

[CelenaIII]

We have a MPG (Multi Purpose Genoa) also known as a drifter from Crusader Sails for our cutter. Set loose-luffed on a furler, sheet to blocks attached to eyes at stern quarter (also used for runners when staysail in use) and back to sheet winch. Has to furled when NO wind in it at all, so run down-wind and mask with main.
Very pleased with set-up but only use outside Solent - for Solent sailing we convert to sloop and fit a Genoa on the roller instead of the Yankee

 

[davehu]

very interesting thanks for this info. How close can you sail with drifter and can you pole it out downwind

 

[CelenaIII]

A fine reach, really, in light wind you need to free up a bit to keep the speed up. (we're not that close winded anyway)
Yes, it can be poled out (it's basically a 170% Genoa made of Spinnaker material). We would normall use our asymetric spinnaker (cruising chute) downwind,when the wind gets too strong we find changing down to the yankee is OK...