Self-tacking jib on rival 32 ?

[Deleted member 36384]

There are not that many places you short tack in Scotland as most sounds are quite wide and I would not classify as short tacking territory. The ones that are narrow will have the potential for current that would have implications for such reduced sail area.

To be honest, if hauling in a sheet is a chore (and it can be with a big overlap) that you don't want to bare, then I wonder if motoring through the narrows will become the default position. I tack my Rival 41C single handed through the Kyles of Bute, which I don't classify as short tacking territory except at the Burnt Isles. The secret is to pause or slow the turn right down when near dead ahead and haul in before completing the tack.

The only point I wish to make is that it appears a lot of modification for something that is currently easily managed and will in all likelihood not be such a chore to be honest. Best of luck and I hope it is a success.

 

[alisdair4]

Boots, I grew up and started sailing on Bute, so funnily enough, I was thinking of the Kyles of Bute! However, I guess it depends what you define by short tacking - maybe I should have specified more tacking than we are currently used to -although Danish inlets have a similar requirement.
It does appear to be a lot of work, and it isn't cheap (if one went for one of the available kits, there is no change out of €1000), but I did promise to explore the issue.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

My reference narrows was deliberate

fair winds.

 

[alisdair4]

Thanks,

 

[dunedin]

Final thought - if tacking is still seen as an issue, perhaps worth considering electric sheet winches. Not cheap but will avoid reducing sailing performance

 

[sailorman]

Let the swmbo helm, you handle the sheets. Failing that get a good autohelm to steer

 

[alisdair4]

Let the swmbo helm, you handle the sheets. Failing that get a good autohelm to steer

It may be a simpler and cheaper solution..!

 

[flaming]

A racing blade jib would have maximum luff height, and a small overlap (say 105 or 110%) - often with battens and with conventional twin sheets, often set very close to the centre line and perhaps with side barber haulers.
So slightly more overlap and a lot more control than a self tacker.
PS. Our boat came with a natty laminate No. 3 blade jib but only been used twice. The Dacron 140% genoa is much faster in most winds and the battens in the blade prevent using on furler

Is that faster on the log, or faster VMG? Over 10 knots or so TWS I'd expect to get better VMG out of a well cut laminate blade than a Dacron roller job, simply because I'd expect to point higher. Over 15 knots I'd probably expect to go faster too.

The genoa is dead in racing, I can't think of a single boat launched in the last 8 years or so to feature one. And it isn't missed.

The sooner the cruising fraternity catches on and ditches them the better.