Until I made a sailpack and lazy jacks, I often avoided the main if big winds were called for, as we'd had to douse it in 30+ a few times, which wasn't fun. Now I don't hesitate to hoist the main, especially up wind. But even downwind, I've found we can carry a full main up to 25 with no issues, and I can reef it downwind fairly easily. That said, there are still times I will leave it in the pack and sail with genoa or jib only, especially if seas are rough. Yesterday we a nice downwind run with genoa and main in 15-25, and when gusts hit 25, I furled the genoa and the boat handled occasional puffs to 30 just fine, running nearly DDW. The wind curled into the bay and was still blowing 20 when we rounded up, dumped the main, and set anchor. In hindsight, just the genoa probably would have done the job just as well, but it was the first sail in several weeks, so I just wanted to play. :) After the wind didn't back by late afternoon as forecast, and we were bounced in big swell at anchor, we sailed back to the dock with just the inner jib, closehauled in 10-20 and made good time. It was after sunset and the windchill was intense, so I left the main down. I do need to rig some preventer lines though.
-- Shawn Wright shawngwri...@gmail.com S/V Callisto, 1974 C&C 35 https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto On Sat, Nov 5, 2022 at 7:48 AM Matt Wolford via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > My 42 Custom also sails fine with just a genny (153 on a furler). > > > > This is funny: the Admiral is not too keen on the boat heeling way over, > and she always thought the main was the culprit. This was a logical > conclusion for a novice sailor because we always cruise with the genny, so > when you add the extra sail area of the main, the boat heels over more > going uphill. This past summer we went out on a windy day, and I knew she > would not be happy with the genny. Instead, I put up only the main. She > is now a big fan of main-only sailing in over 10 knots or so of breeze. > > > > Matt > > > > > > On Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 3:00 PM CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > My boat sails fine with just genoa too. Only two lines to deal with and > the cockpit is quiet and less busy. Great for lunch or snacking. > > It sails fine with just main, also, and tacking in tight quarters is > easier. Handles like a laser. > > With a J of 14'10" and an E of 15'1" they are almost the same on a 34R. > > > > Chuck S > > On 11/04/2022 10:31 AM Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > >
