MacGregorSailors.com

Not just Mac skippers. A gent posted on another site that he was on a Mac 26X/M only once and that it did not sail well at all, upwind, esp. His qualification was 10+ years of sailing. I thought - I did not write - that there is ten years of sailing - and one year of sailing done ten times.

Gent had NO response to my posted video of going 5 knots to windward.

bscott wrote: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

I find the best sails to stock are the jib and the asym

Years of sailing the genny on the furler, always having to furl in higher winds

Now using hank on head sails

Points much higher

When the winds are lighter, out comes the asym

Beats the genny hands down

Want to head up.... ditch the sym and fly the jib, will point higher then genny any day

G

I use hank-on 100% jib + main. Thinking of getting storm jib to use with reefed main in higher winds.

I use the genoa as my only foresail. I also adjust it using the roller furler according to the sailing conditions. For example, sailing downwind, I let the whole sail out and if the conditions are right, rig a whisker pole. If pointing upwind, I do not let the entire sail out - try to pretend I have a standard size jib.

on the macs, what have you fellas found is the easiest way to change out the headsails while on the water, change from a RF set up and just use a shroud and a hank on system?
sure do like my roller furler though!!

I think the best way if you want to be able to use either sail is a second jib stay - a cutter rig.

You been hangin around the Scotsman too much
I do like the cutter rig, but quite some engineering in the bowsprit, and increased initial set up time, but that's not too big a deal

So if the genie is set 2'above the jib, would you set the spinnaker 2' above the genie.

Maybe just go to a jib and a spinnaker, as suggested

How many of you use your spinnaker on a broad reach, or maybe even a light beam reach, and not just running

I'll use my asymmetrical spinnaker from beam reach to running. I don't have a bow sprit but have rigged a block on the bail of my bow roller and added a mast hound 18 inches above the factory one. That way the genoa sock halyard serves double duty as the spinnaker halyard also. Another added bonus is you don't have to add another forstay.

Wayne nicol wrote:on the macs, what have you fellas found is the easiest way to change out the headsails while on the water, change from a RF set up and just use a shroud and a hank on system?
sure do like my roller furler though!!

Good question
How much money do you want to spend
Do you have your boat slipped all year or at least months at a time
Or rig each time you sail and leave on the trailer between times
Lots of factors to consider

If I had my Mac in a slip 6 months of the year, I might look into some kind of dual head sail config.
Not as complex as Highlanders, but would aim to have 2 furling sails, jib and genny

At the very least a better quality furler than the one that came with my Mac
One that I could easily swap out the sail with
Would cost a grand or more above the FF2 type for sure
So again, how much do you want to spend for the ability to be able to reef the head sail in use

For performance, you can't beat hank on, using just the forestay

But you can't reef them
Its swap it out, or put it away entirely

I have used the FF2 for 6 years
Works ok
Harder to rig with that in use
If you are a trailer sailor like I am now, your furled headsail stays horizontal for long periods
They were not intended for this
What will happen is water and mold will develop in the rolls of the sail as it is not vertical the way it was intended to be
Using that system, you can't swap out the sails easily, changing to a jib
The genny does not point well
In my area I had to roll her in 80% of the time
Again, worked ok
But not as well as the right sail for the conditions

What I use now is just the forestay with 3 hank on sails and the asym off the bow sprit
Genny, jib, storm sail, all hank on

I do not need a second hound as I no longer use the furler

Nothing gets in the way when I switch from the hank on sails to the asym

So what you choose to use is up to you, your money, your situation etc

G

thanks, i too am a trailer sailor!
and it seems the hank on might be the best sytem, thinking i could make a sail bag that attaches to the lip of the hatch, so can drop the sail, hoist the next one, and put the now unused one in the bag, , close the drawstring and then close the hatch, quick and easy.
i am thinking this will be the way to go.

so next question, what diameter of fore stay, with turnbuckle??or same adjusters as the side shrouds??
is dyneema an option, or not really- too much abrasion from the sliders??
thanks
wayne

Wayne nicol wrote:. . . thinking i could make a sail bag that attaches to the lip of the hatch, so can drop the sail, hoist the next one, and put the now unused one in the bag, , close the drawstring and then close the hatch, quick and easy.
i am thinking this will be the way to go.

Sounds like a plan. Most sailbags have hardware to and bottom to secure it so it doesn't go overboard, whether empty or loaded. Bottom one can go to the eye strap for the MRS, and the top to a lifeline. For instance.

Forestay would be the same diameter as what's on there now, probably 5/32" for an , but I don't know that. I also don't see any reason you couldn't use the forestay that's used with the roller furler, which you already own. Keep the turnbuckle at the bottom.

Edit: BWY says it's a 1/8" stay on the , but they offer a 5/32" 'upgraded' forestay for the , so I rather doubt it matters if you go with a heavier forestay on the and might give you a little more security.

My winds can vary a lot so I sail the 105 jib here in SW FL.
There are times I would like a 150 genoa but I rather furl a 105 and still beat to windward. I have a New Main with 2 full battens at top and 7 oz from JudyB.
I find it much more useful to roll in jib than reef the main and if wind is to much I take down Main and let the 105 beat to windward and with inner track does nice 40-45 degrees off the wind.
Everyone has their way of reefing, I take the easy way at my age.
With just the 105 jib up beating to windward with apparent wind at 10 knots I can come to 42 degrees and without loss of speed.(remember the 105 is on the inside track)
Downwind I pole out the Jib with adjustable length.
Just got to know your boat and make it yours.
Dave

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

Very Interesting, I have never had a boat that I can reef, that is my next topic...when and how to reef? so much to learn and so little time!

I have found on my M

Better to reef main then headsail

I had mid reef installed between factory point and none

Reefed there, the head of the main matches the jib

Less wind up high with these tender boats helps the heel quite a bit

But keeps the headsail pointing nice when it is not furled in

Just can't head up without good headsail out

I will even go deep reefed main and full jib or storm sail

After that, its the iron genny or nothing

G

Totally depends on the prevailing winds where you are. My problem in San Diego is frequent light winds, so the Genoa is a requirement. We rarely ever have winds above 12 knots here and more typically are around 4 to 6 knots. If your prevailing winds are higher than 10 knots, I'd definitely get the jib.