Should I modify my rig?

[mireland]

My boat937ft steel) is currently rigged as a kind of cutter with a roller genoa and roller jib. However the jib is very close behind the genoa and this means that tacking the genny is a problem. Infact it is easier to roll it in then pull it out again. I can see the merits of having a small jib always available for use but it seems to be at a high price. I am wondering if it would be wise to remove the roller jib altogether and maybe even rig it as a secondary forestay instead. I am very inexperienced and would value any suggestions you may have. Thank you in advance.

 

[snowleopard]

not uncommon to have 2 headsails close together. it's often seen on blue water boats as it makes for easy use as twin running sails. it's going to be a pain to tack the genoa but the owners who set it up probably figured they were unlikely to want to short-tack with the genoa. under those conditions they would change down to the working jib or motor.

if you want to race, the extra windage of the 2nd headsail must be removed but for cruising i'd be inclined to live with it for a while and see if you can get to like it before making radical changes.

 

[William_H]

I agree with Snowleopard in that the cutter rig on this size of boat is excellent especially for ocean cruising. However if your sailing style is limited to tight estuaries with frequent tacking then it is the wrong kind of rig. This is especially so if you have generally light winds with the need for full sail.
There could be some alternatives then involving getting rig of the inner forestay and sail at least on a tempry basis for light wind sailing.
You would need to have a disconnect for the inner forestay and a waay to stow it near the mast or a sidestay. The forestay would need to be replaced by an binner forestay meeting the deck nearer the mast or replaced by twin intermediate shrowds going forward in addition to 2 going aft or you may be able to reengineer the spreaders to sweep aft giving forward push on the mast at the point where the inner forestay meets the mast. The latter idea especially would be expensive and need some good rigging engineering advice the first 2 options being simpler less expensive and more foolproof. The first option however leaving you with an inner forestay albeit closer to the mast to get the genoa around.
come stronger winds you should revert to the present arrangement. To make this changeable of course might mean getting rid of the roller on the inner jib.
For all that the best advice is for you to persevere as is into you get more experience with your own sailing habits as the existing arrangement is regarded as pretty good. regards olewill