Posted by Allen McClung (amcclung@…>)
I’d like to read some discussion about staysails. I can’t seem to
get it right. For the past couple of races I haven’t used the
staysail and have done better. If I put the staysail up and go
faster/sail higher, then that’s good. If I put it up and can’t seem
to control the boat any better or lose helm or don’t go any
faster/higher, then I take it down. Several weeks ago I went out
with a friend in 20/25 mph winds with the staysail up. We were
knocked over as soon as we turned into the wind. I didn’t turn the
boat upside down, but it was asses over elbows in the cockpit until
we let the main out and dropped the staysail.
A couple of weeks before that incident I sailed with a buddy who
sails an Etschells. He said I was messing with the foot of the sail
too much; that I should set the staysail foot and leave it alone.
Maybe.
I’ve attached a link below to photos of the last race. It was Women
at the Helm and my boat finished first in the P fleet. No staysail
used.
Any comments appreciated.
Allen McClung
F-21 #102
http://www.pbase.com/sloopsailor/women_at_the_helm
Posted by julius christensen (biff_sail@…>)
Allen, this is my opinion. The main on the freedom 21 is so big that you don’t need a jib or a staysail in 10 knots or more.The staysail is great in light air and is easy to douse and stuff in a bag. When my staysail went to pieces I went online with similar measurements. Bacon sails showed a lightning jib would work. It’s not class legal for racing but it works very well. It does have battens and a wire luff. That’s my 2 cents. NEXT!!! BIffAllen McClung <amcclung@…> wrote: I’d like to read some discussion about staysails. I can’t seem to get it right. For the past couple of races I haven’t used the staysail and have done better. If I put the staysail up and go faster/sail higher, then that’s good. If I put it up and can’t seem to control the boat any better or lose helm or don’t go any faster/higher, then I take it down. Several weeks ago I went out with a friend in 20/25 mph winds with the staysail up. We were knocked over as soon as we turned into the wind. I didn’t turn the boat upside down, but it was asses over elbows in the cockpit until we let the main out and dropped the staysail. A couple of weeks before that incident I sailed with a buddy who sails an Etschells. He said I was messing with the foot of the sail too much; that I should set the staysail foot and leave it alone. Maybe. I’ve attached a link
below to photos of the last race. It was Women at the Helm and my boat finished first in the P fleet. No staysail used.Any comments appreciated.Allen McClungF-21 #102 http://www.pbase.com/sloopsailor/women_at_the_helm
Posted by Sean Mulligan (quadmulligan@…>)
I agree that having it all up when the wind goes over 12 is too much. Here are photos of Emmylou last Labor Day in 20 knots of breeze: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/quadmulligan/album/576460762348552520 I have been playing with tacking the staysail to the end of the spin boom. Then I play it out like a J-boat spit. Boys and their toys…julius christensen <biff_sail@…> wrote: Allen, this is my opinion. The main on the freedom 21 is so big that you don’t need a jib or a staysail in 10 knots or more.The staysail is great in light air and is easy to douse and stuff in a bag. When my staysail went to pieces I went online with similar measurements. Bacon sails showed a lightning jib would work. It’s not class legal for racing but it works very well. It does have battens and a wire luff. That’s my 2 cents. NEXT!!! BIffAllen McClung <amcclung@insightbb.com> wrote: I’d like to read some discussion about staysails. I can’t seem to get it right. For the past couple of races I haven’t used the staysail and have done better. If I put the staysail up and go faster/sail
higher, then that’s good. If I put it up and can’t seem to control the boat any better or lose helm or don’t go any faster/higher, then I take it down. Several weeks ago I went out with a friend in 20/25 mph winds with the staysail up. We were knocked over as soon as we turned into the wind. I didn’t turn the boat upside down, but it was asses over elbows in the cockpit until we let the main out and dropped the staysail. A couple of weeks before that incident I sailed with a buddy who sails an Etschells. He said I was messing with the foot of the sail too much; that I should set the staysail foot and leave it alone. Maybe. I’ve attached a link below to photos of the last race. It was Women at the Helm and my boat finished first in the P fleet. No staysail used.Any comments appreciated.Allen McClungF-21 #102 http://www.pbase.com/sloopsailor/women_at_the_helm