Headsail vs Mainsail in High Winds

[Saxacussionist]

I am a bit confused about whether to use the headsail only or mainsail only in high winds. I have been looking through the forums and talking to people at the marina and it seems there is no 'right' answer. Perhaps the answer is even somewhere in-between?

[mastreb]

The right answer is that you still use both, reefed.

When you don't have both sails out, the center of effort is not balanced and the helm becomes very tricky. The wind will literally force the boat off course, and you'll be fighting it the entire time. You'll find that you cannot necessarily keep the course you want to keep or accomplish a tack.

Depending on the winds, reef the main to the first or second reef point (if you have a second one) as you raise it. Get moving on the main only, and then unfurl the headsail until you're making the speed you want. In very high winds, you may only have a flag-sized patch out, but it will still balance the helm very well.

If you have a hank-on jib, you'll need to reef the mainsail more and you'll want to use the traveller and the jib sheets to spill air to prevent excessive heeling. It won't be as efficient, but you've got extra wind in this situation so no worries about that.

[reastmure]

I have used the main sail reefed with out head sail for going down wind (broad reach to full sail) in very strong wind. Had a lot of speed especially when surfing waves. Worked fine for me on this tack. On any other tack or trying to go up wind, you end up almost hoving to with out at least a tiny bit of head sail out.

[bscott]

Not enough information: What head sail on your 26S? Hanked on or roller furled? Single handed or capable crew? OB hp?

The 26S performs much differently than the X or M so rigging for high winds will be different depending on the answers to the above questions.

Bob

[jbousquin]

I've done jib only in high winds sailing downwind. Obviously won't help if you need to point up.

Other than that mastreb said: I was having issues healing too much in high winds until I reefed both the main (I only have the one, factory reef point) and deployed just a tiny bit of jib on the roller furler to balance it out. I was surprised at how well the boat performed under those conditions, and I got up to 7.2 knots.

[Saxacussionist]

Not enough information: What head sail on your 26S? Hanked on or roller furled? Single handed or capable crew? OB hp?

The 26S performs much differently than the X or M so rigging for high winds will be different depending on the answers to the above questions.

Bob

More info:
The headsail is roller furled.
I sail mostly single handed when the winds begin to blow. (I know that goes against conventional wisdom, but my crew usually consists of landlubbers who are looking for a smooth sail, so if I want any experience in higher winds, I go alone...) Not talking anything crazy here. Since this is my first season, 20 - 25 mph winds have been my personal limit to this point.
The outboard motor is an 8 hp Honda
Mainsail has only 1 reefing point

Thanks for your help! You guys have been great!

[dive4it]

I just spent the week sailing around the San Juan islands, winds change as you round every corner. I found that if the wind didn't look good or was only going to be good for a little bit (until I passed the next channel, etc.) I would roll out my Genoa because it's so easy with the furler. The main seams like it takes a whole lot of work to raise and lower just for a short time. I'd say I spent 90% of my time with sails up using the genoa only this week. Not only did it work fine running with the wind, but up to about 45 degrees into the wind too. I'm not an old salt by any means but it worked so well, I rarily raised the main this week. Agree'd, with foresail only, the helm was a little busy keeping it on course but really not bad unless it was gusting. On the few times that I did raise the main, it didn't help in speed seamingly at all, just made me heel more. Did I mention that I don't think I could live without the furler? I love it.

JT

[dlandersson]

I find myself defaulting to my Genoa for the same reason - especially when I am alone.

Is the a mainsail roller furler for the X?

I just spent the week sailing around the San Juan islands, winds change as you round every corner. I found that if the wind didn't look good or was only going to be good for a little bit (until I passed the next channel, etc.) I would roll out my Genoa because it's so easy with the furler. The main seams like it takes a whole lot of work to raise and lower just for a short time. I'd say I spent 90% of my time with sails up using the genoa only this week. Not only did it work fine running with the wind, but up to about 45 degrees into the wind too. I'm not an old salt by any means but it worked so well, I rarily raised the main this week. Agree'd, with foresail only, the helm was a little busy keeping it on course but really not bad unless it was gusting. On the few times that I did raise the main, it didn't help in speed seamingly at all, just made me heel more. Did I mention that I don't think I could live without the furler? I love it.

JT

[Steve K]

Noticed all the answers are from X & M owners. So............

The D boat (and I think, likely the S too) sails pretty good with head sail only......... not so good with main only.

As others have mentioned, probably the best setup would be a reefed main and jib, or storm jib in really heavy stuff.

But if you want to just have to be able to handle only one sail when things get dicey, I would say the jib alone will work best.

There has been discussion that our type of rig can be a problem when only using the headsail and that it could cause a mast failure. (the main takes some opposite loading from the head sail). I'm not sure about this, but I would recommend using a topping lift and (line running from the top of the mast to the end of the boom) keeping the main sheet nice and tight when sailing with only the head sail. I'm sure, if you have that little clip on the back stay, that holds your boom up when the main sail is down, and then crank down on your mainsheet, you could bend the top part of the mast with it.
I have to be very careful with my adjustable backstay for similar reasons. But loading the boom with the mainsheet and, in turn loading the mast through the topping lift causes a different dynamic, for some reason.......... different leverage, I guess.

Best Breezes,
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[MAC-A-TAC]

Hello Steve K,

What dictates sail selection for me more often than not is wind direction. I try to use the sail or combination of sails that do not bias the helm one way or the other. If I sail the intracoastal in high winds the furled Genoa is my default sail, but if off the coast I would add a reefed main to the mix. I may be preaching to the choir,but what I am trying to do is apply equal force on each side of the mac's pivot point (the dagger board).

MAC Out.

[vizwhiz]

I'm going to chime in briefly and hope the other S and X owners with more experience will confirm this, but on the S, with the swing-keel, you can raise the keel some to bring the center of resistance back further to the rear, which will help balance out a mainsail-only sail plan. This should be consistent with the X as well.

With the jib only, you'd want the swing keel all the way down (assuming a windward point of sail) to move the center of resistance as far forward as possible, but that's probably less effective at balancing than using the main only with a slightly lifted keel.

Ultimately, the S boat is going to sail more like the X than the M, so we may be able to compensate better for a more aft center-of-effort (i.e. main only) than a D or M driver can which only have up-and-down daggerboard movement (not fore-and-aft).

S and X cap'ns, please confirm or rebuff...

[mastreb]

I find myself defaulting to my Genoa for the same reason - especially when I am alone.

Is the a mainsail roller furler for the X?

I'm sure the Inmon roller reefer could be adapted to the X without much trouble.

[robbarnes1965]

I find Mastreb's first answer is the best. Both sails reefed. You have a furler so why not at least a little bit of foresail to be able to tack.

I wish I could remember who posted it, but one of the best tricks I have learned from this site was to heave to by tacking and leaving the headsail tacked on the original winch. The wheel will be locked with a bungee or line hard over to the original side. Now the main will be as tame as it would be if you were pointing to windward and you can reef it, douse it or whatever you want. Even if the wind is high, you will be able to calmly go on deck and deal with it. heaving-to is the best weapon in the world. Refer to Lin and Larry Pardy's "storm Tactics" book or video for how to do this in 100 kt winds and waves

[Steve K]

Fellas,
I don't think the X boat sails anything like a D boat. (speaking from experience here)
I think it would be comparing apples to oranges to compare sailing characteristics between X/M & D/S .

The S and D would be similar and conversely, the X and M may respond similarly. The X and M boats have a vastly different hull shape and also much more windage. I can't speak from experience re: the M boat. However, if I ever sailed the X boat on a single sail, it would be the main and when sailing the D boat with one sail, I will use the head sail. I found this to work best for each boat.(for me anyway) Although, I find the D boat to sail on main only pretty well also and sometimes, when tired and in no hurry, I'll sail on the main only, just steering the boat. Never have to touch the main sheet and there are no head sheets to deal with. (but not in really high winds)

The best way to sail either boat (X and D) in high winds is with reefed main and jib, or storm jib........ particularly when those high winds bring the BIG waves You're balanced better.
Keep your winch handle handy and wear your gloves, for handling the head sheets.
Last thing you need when having a challenging sail is a big ole rope burn

Learn your main sail reefing system and if there is any question in your mind, reef. It's much easier to shake out said reef, if things calm, than trying to reef the sail in a big blow..................................

And, had I listened to my own advice here, I wouldn't have torn my jib, broken my Bimini, almost went over the side and bruised my back on the life line, that one time. ( Yea, try reefing the main when single handing, after it's really too late to do so)

Best Breezes,
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[yukonbob]

I find the headsail is too easy to deploy and reef so I usually default to it (usually on a run in a mile and a half wide channel(fjord) going with the wind) BUT...it gets pulled by the headsail rather than steered through the water, tends to yaw more, and is much more susceptible to wave action, . Both up and reefed is a much more comfortable ride for everyone but is moire of a pita to initiate.