MacGregorSailors.com

Stickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 1:58 pm

DaveC426913 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:28 am

Stickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 9:04 am I did BWY's Big Jib rigging and sail mod, and have since traded my 150 genoa for a 150 drifter.

What is a drifter that a genoa is not?

It sounds like a cross between a genny and a spinny.

I wonder if I could run one up the spare halyard in a light wind.

A drifter is essentially a lightweight genoa. Being made from .75 oz nylon, it fills much more easily in light breezes than a genoa of the same size. It has a heavy rope luff, so it hoists on its own halyard set at the top of the mast. So, yes, if you have a spare halyard up front then that's how it is typically flown (as opposed to hanking it to the forestay like a regular jib). I found it is a little difficult to manage when taking it down, so I made a dousing sock for it. Much easier. Drifters can also be flown from their own furler, simplifying their use even more.

Describing it as a cross between a ginny and a spinny is accurate, particularly the way I use it. It is an excellent downwind sail, but I don't use it in winds any higher than about 12 to 13 MPH (at least yet). Any higher than that and I find that the boat performs well with just the 104% "Big Jib" and main. With winds below 6-7 MPH, it can mean the difference between sailing and just bobbing around.

When I decided I wanted a light wind sail, I researched different options and went with the drifter over a spinnaker for ease of handling since much of my sailing is single-handed, and my racing crew is, frankly, not up to the task of managing a spinnaker.

I consulted with Mike Lipari (new-ish owner of The Sail Warehouse) and he worked with Rolly Tasker to design what is referred to as a "Code C" sail. It does not have the girth up high that a spinnaker does, so still qualifies as regular foresail, and has no effect on my PHRF rating.

Something a drifter can do that a spinnaker can't is reach. I have found that I can get almost to a close reach when using it. Of course, it's billowy shape is not ideal for reaching, and when the wind gets up to about 12 MPH it can make the boat hard to handle. When in lighter breezes (like those encountered one evening on Lake Texoma) it performs remarkably well, impressing even my wife whose eyes usually glaze over when discussing matters of boat performance.

pitchpolehobie wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 3:36 am Well now I think I need one. Ive had a 150 genoa/100 jib and I need something for lighter wind sailing as both are less than desirable.

Ixneigh wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:25 am I have a drifter but it’s a PITA. Or maybe I’m just lazy. Or maybe im not doing it right. I see it on a pole bowsprit (mast raising pole) lashed to the windlass and bow roller. It had its own halyard that was a few feet above the jib halyard. Tacking was an ordeal (by myself) and it just didn’t seem worth carrying for the number of light wind days we get. I decided I’d look for one to set off the head stay, and use the jib halyard, suffer with loss of sail area and have be much easier to manage. So far I have not located one though. (Read: found one cheap somewhere because I’m far to cost conscious to buy a new one lol)

Ix