MacGregorSailors.com

Hello all

I may be on a lake tomorrow in my elderly Mac25. Winds are predicted 14-25 mph, weather clear. I have a 150 jenny on roller furling, and a standard mainsail with a single set of reefpoints. Other than 'idiot why are you trying to sail in such winds', any advice on what setup to use, e.g.: jib partially unfurled, main only reefed at the only reefpoint I have (I wonder if that will be too much sail, tho'), or reefed main and jib let out 'just a teeny bit'?

Jeremy

I don't know about the 25 but with my 26S in anything over 15 mph I have the main reefed and the 150 geona starts out furled to about 50% and gradually to near 100% as the winds increase. I always leave at least a little 'tab' on the genoa to help with tacking. A rule of thumb I use is, if you are heeling more than 25 degrees, furl in some genoa.

You don't have much choice there do you?

Reef the main and keep the Genny reefed to being quite small. Get a feel for how the boat is handling. You can always
let out some more sail with the furler. Be comfortable. Oh yes, keep one hand on the main sheet at all times. One sudden puff of wind, and you may suddenly feel the need to let out a lot of sheet.

We have a Muscle Head for a main on our , so we tend to reef at lower wind speeds than those with traditional shaped sails. However, the Admiral and I enjoy the thrill of sailing while heeled in excess of 35 degrees. You are not moving quickly, but it's one heck of a ride!

Again, keep one hand on the Main Sheet

Ray

Remember as well that: Higher Winds - require Flatter Sails”.

No baggy sails, so use whatever trim tools you have onboard to flatten the foils, this will help keep you powered to get through waves but still stand upright.

Main Sail:
- main sail hoist as tight as possible. (use the winch if lines are led aft)
- tighten your out-haul (pull the clew as far aft as possible)
- tighten you backstay if you have one
- allow more twist in the sail to spill wind off the top (sight from under the boom and the top batten should be falling to leeward)
- tweak your leech line, a flapping roach in high wind will kill your sail.

Head Sail:
- once your genoa is furled into 100% or less, change the sheets to in-board car T-tracks, if you have them.
- tighten the tack line (attached to the roller furling drum)

p.s.
- check for 100% full ballast before leaving shore
- wear a PFD at all times

“Sail Safe, and Leave Only Wake”

Darry

Thanks much for the helpful advices! Confirms what I thought I'd do: reefed main with just a bit of jib.
Jer

Wind Chime:

I didn't see your excellent points until after I'd posted my first thanks; nice list of 'to-do's'! I don't have a lot of those options on my boat, but will try to flatten the main as much as possible, and will definitely be wearing PFD's!

Jer

Jer,


Be a wise man, not a smart one. While anytime sailing, always wear a PFD. It just makes sense!

Ray

NiceAft wrote: Oh yes, keep one hand on the main sheet at all times. One sudden puff of wind, and you may suddenly feel the need to let out a lot of sheet.

I really wanted to comment on this...

I was wondering who might get it

Ray

Just wanted to let y'all know my son and I went out, had a very nice, energetic sail, under reefed main and jenny let out to probably 2/3 of standard working jib size. Wore our pfd's, stayed warm, had a great time. Thanks all for the interest and advice.

I'm extremely jealous. Nice Aft is wrapped in tarps, sitting in our driveway.

Ray

Here in New England we seem to get a lot of those days where it picks up. I've tried to muscle through without changing my head sail and reefing but finally figured out the correct amount of sail make everything so much more enjoyable. When we get up in the 20 range I fly a small jib and roll the main up about I/3. We were off Monomoy this summer in 20 plus towing a dingy. The seas were 5 plus and seemed to build then diminish. I was so happy at the way she pumped through at 6+ knots even while towing. I still had to make cocktails while laying on my stomach but we had a blast. These little boats are a ball and are a lot heartier than they get credit for. By the way I had my three daughter wife and the dog on board for the weekend and everyone had a smile.

The Tsatz is also under wraps. I still jump in and have a beer inside once in a while for good measure! My wife and I have been known to have a bottle of wine on the bow to watch the sunset......in our driveway, planning our next trip.

Merry Christmas to all the 25 owners out there.

Tsatzsue wrote:The Tsatz is also under wraps. I still jump in and have a beer inside once in a while for good measure! My wife and I have been known to have a bottle of wine on the bow to watch the sunset......in our driveway, planning our next trip.

Merry Christmas to all the 25 owners out there.

And that friends, is what it is REALLY all about.

I do the same...it's cold here, but still ok to work on the boat...

merry christmas

I'm a bit late to the advice party, but another good thing to do when the wind is highly variable is to sail with the mainsheet in-hand, and sheet it out any time the boat heels because of a puff. I'll often times leave it uncleated and just keep it tensioned with my arm when the winds are changing a lot. Really helps to keep speed up, the boat on course, and heel under control.

I've actually been thinking about a "Spring cleat" for the mainsheet that would keep the sheet under specific tension rather than actually being cleated to do this automatically.