Jib or Genoa?

[sirlandsalot]

what do you thinks is the best for a Mac 26m, pro's and cons? I don't know what to get. thanks

[bartmac]

Whilst I bought a genoa and furling gear for my 26X.....I wish for my jib at times....the Mac doesn't point that well and the genoa just makes it worse...so a dual rig is on the cards!!

[Tomfoolery]

You ain't kiddin'. I've sailed a fair bit in some good breezes lately with the genoa, and got reminded just how poorly it points with that big head sail. I'll be bringing the jib to the MMOR next week, for sure, and give it a go while the memory of the genoa is still fresh.

BUT, I could move a long rather smartly when the wind died down, and was outsailing some other sailboats, which was nice.

[Matt19020]

Jib...pointing is neccesary where I am....always felt overpowered with the genoa when it gets puffy

[dlandersson]

When the wind picks up I shorten the Genoa to keep it pointing halfway well. It seems to me that a RF Genoa can be as long or short as needed. Witht he kids, it's pretty short - so they can see under it.

what do you thinks is the best for a Mac 26m, pro's and cons? I don't know what to get. thanks

[bartmac]

Shortened genoa is NO match for a jib!!

[Obelix]

When we got our 2008 we ordered it with a 150% genny on our furler, against the recommendation made by our dealer. Sailing almost exclusively on the San Francisco Bay we learned during the first 2 years that a jib would have been a better choice with the prevailing winds at the bay. We then installed a 100% jib and were happier. Now living in southwest Florida, we are debating to maybe mount the genny again.
The short of the story is the better choice is always depending on the prevailing winds in your specific sailing area.
For normally higher winds or for normally gusty winds, I'd recommend the jib.
For normally steady winds around or below 15 knots, I'd recommend the genny.
In either case, a furler is adding lot's of flexibility.
(My admiral doesn't like healing much beyond 15 deg, your situation may be different)

Obelix

[dlandersson]

Okay, why? Kids like to see under the sail - and we normally sail in winds less than 15 knots.

Shortened genoa is NO match for a jib!!

[March]

That's right--you can furl the jenny all you want, it will still perform less well than a jib. It has to do with the total shape of the sail that is less effective, when semi-furled, than a jib.

we started with a furled jib. Then we acquired a jenny for those calmer days. The jib stays in place, and the jenny is hanked-on. After several tentative sorties, it became obvious that the jenny offers a little advantage downwind--but becomes a liability when it comes to pointing. So we replaced the jenny with a spinnaker for those rare downwind days when the winds are "just right". We still haul the jenny along in its bag, "just in case," but it gets deployed less and less often.

[Highlander]

I resolved that issue a long time ago
Both head sails notice my nice water fall coming outa my Genny
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0_2494.jpg

Just the genny
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... _0601b.jpg

or just the jib when I can't throw caution into the wind
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... G_0324.jpg

J

[Russ]

I bought the boat with a RF jib. I found in light winds it just wasn't enough. If I were sailing in heavy winds, the genny would be too much.
So we've been sailing for 2 years with the 150 Genoa and find it works well. Hard to get around the mast in light winds, but better in light winds.

When the wind picks up I shorten the Genoa to keep it pointing halfway well. It seems to me that a RF Genoa can be as long or short as needed. Witht he kids, it's pretty short - so they can see under it.

Yes, this is what we do. It's not perfect semi-furled, but is a compromise. It's a Mac and sailing well isn't in the cards anyway, so adjusting (reefing) the genny is what we do.

I think the answer depends on average winds you expect to sail in. If I were in San Francisco bay, a small jib and reefed main would be the norm. In light winds summers in Chesapeake bay, I might go with a 150.
There is no one answer for all.

--Russ

[sirlandsalot]

Super info guys, helps a lot, should'a posted here earlier! The boat I am looking at has after market sails, main/ Jib. I was looking forward to try a new sail plan from my catamaran which is Main/jib. And my ultimate dream, a big cat, is usually a main/genoa sail plan, hence a good time to learn on the mac.

Sounds like a Main/jib with a spinnaker might be nice, maybe I should get a spinnaker instead of a Genoa to compliment the main/jib plan that comes with the boat

[bscott]

A well trimmed or with a quality after market Jib and Main using the vang, out haul, traveller, cb position, halyards timmed for wind and heading and jib sheets cars trimmed will out sail a genny equipped Mac that has OEM sails and no applied trimming from the crew.

I say BS to those that claim that Macs are poor sailing yachts--poor sailing captains is more like it.

Bob

[bartmac]

I say BS to those that claim that Macs are poor sailing yachts--poor sailing captains is more like it.

Sounds like sour grapes....I own a Mac 26X and I'm willing to see the obvious shortcomings of the hull design for sailing......its not a pure sailing design because of its need to be able to plane....so what...its trailable, its lightweight, its large inside etc etc but a good sailer no its not but I don't mind given the other advantages.All that said ....I'd go for a good jib rather than a genoa as a Mac is easily overcome by wind and whilst heeling is fun its not the fastest method of sailing

[pmmcderm]

For what it's worth, I got the 150% Genoa with my . After about 1 year of noticing I was always furling in the Genoa, I bought a jib. Not as good for light winds, but around Oahu, it's generally 10-15 kts with gusts 5kts or so higher. There are more days that I'm happier with the Jib than days I think about swapping. With a roller furler, not an easy task, so the Jib stays up. Also, around here, I've never once raised the Spinnaker. One of these 5kt wind days I've got to do that. Most of this is probably sailor rather than boat , but I'd say if your average day winds are 10+ kts, the Jib is probably a better choice.