I have exactly the same boat/rig. I can tell you what I do, though I don't swear to it being "best practice" .......
I'm starting w/a 135 or 155. On a day that shows signs of getting windy, its the 135. The sailmaker rates it as OK to 21 knots. The 155 is a light mylar, old, and I only use it on light air days. As the wind gets up, first thing I do is twist off the top of the main. Next is a pretty deep reef in the main. I only have one reef point and it's a substantial reduction. If I had two points, I'd work through them sequentially. Only after I'm overpowered with a deep reefed main do I reduce headsail size. I let heal angle tell me when to change. I've never been able to get the helm to balance worth a hoot at a heal angle >20 degrees. After that, I'm dragging the rudder through the water and/or rounding up, and basically just forcing things rather than sailing efficiently. The other side of it is, my boat sails nicely with just a working jib on windier days. If I just want to be out on the water and the wind is up, I'll put up a heavy weight, high clewed jib of about 100% that I bought used (well used) off a used sail site. With the main furled away and the boom safely strapped down, I can have fun out there when others are working their butts off. When it's too much for that, it's time to be in the marina. Tom "Tom Deters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent by: [email protected] 07/18/2008 10:19 AM Please respond to [email protected] To [email protected] cc Subject Re: catalina27-talk: Yesterdays sail All - New to the Cat 27 handling in rougher weather, I find the spade rudder and tiller somewhat difficult, almost uncomfortable to handle in 18-20mph wind. Getting your shoulder wet is great fun, but the tenderness can be ...as the wife would say.."Is it supposed to do this?". This season on Lake Michigan, we have ample wind. I generally reef and unfurl the head sail to find the balance and helm that is manageable. Has ther been any discussion on best performance and sail plan of the Cat 27 in different stink and wave? I have a 1986 TR, Tiller w/ Traveler cabin top. TMDeters Summer Wind Kenosha, WI On 7/17/08, el sailor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: We left about 10 for a "three hour tour". Actually we'd planned to spend most of the day out and about. Some of you may recognized the quoted phrase from the Gillivan's Island theme song. It was a glorious time; the wind started in the West at 5 to 10; by 3 they were out of the East @ 15 to 20 and the waves were 2 - 4 with the occasional 6 - 7 footer. That was our first time rail down on Nautidog. We were running a 150% jenny and an unreefed main. When anyone moved they had a good grip on something. K was laughing and yelling how much it felt like a continuous roller coaster. KatznEarl2 s/v Nautidog #3188 Hampton
