Flying a Jib and Staysail Together

[enjaku]

I've got dual headsails with a 120% "jib" on the forward furler, and a staysail on the inner furler. Does it make any sense to fly them together on the same side when reaching? I've normally only flown one of them at a time based on winds and conditions, but now I'm curious what would the result be if I flew them together. Thoughts? Cheers.
eric

[Safari38LH]

Originally Posted by enjaku

I've got dual headsails with a 120% "jib" on the forward furler, and a staysail on the inner furler. Does it make any sense to fly them together on the same side when reaching? I've normally only flown one of them at a time based on winds and conditions, but now I'm curious what would the result be if I flew them together. Thoughts? Cheers.

eric

Double headsails have been popular in the pass on racing boats. If it's faster, why not.

[appick]

Also it looks cooler! :-) And chicks dig it!

[enjaku]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try it out and see how the runs. It's one of those things that, for some reason, I never considered.

Cheers,
eric

[JPA Cate]

Enjaku,

We do, with our solent rig, but more like downwind, not forward of the beam at all. Your VMG will let you know if the staysail is interfering with the airflow over the genoa. I think using the larger head sail poled out to windward, main, trimmed correctly for the point of sail, and the staysail simply held out to leeward by the breeze can be up to one knot faster than without it, maybe a knot and 1/4 in flat water...

Ann

[HBWT]

How's that expression go...

"Pull out the staysail, gain a knot, furl in the staysail, gain another knot."

Unlike Ann, I do not use my staysail for downwind. I primarily use it only for reaching as close to the wind in plus 10 knot conditions or if the weather really turn poor. It will improve your reaching angle and speed.

[boden36]

I stopped using ours with the genoa, as it stopped the boat.

regards,
Richard.

[Snowpetrel]

7A lot depends on the foot height. If its a low cut sail you mostly won't see any real speed advantage unless you are poled out downwind as Ann suggests.

If its a high cut yankee type sail it will help plug the gap nicely an may give more speed to windward and reaching.

Any staysail set inside a headsail needs careful adjustment so as not to choke the slot. If in doubt ease it out.

The biggest benefit of flying both sails together on your typical cruising cutter is easier tacking. It can really help the genoa blow through the gap if you leave the staysail backed until the genoa has blown through the slot (as long as the sheet doesn't hang up on a hank.. )

Sheet the genoa in first then the staysail only needs a slight tweak to set it correctly as it will follow the genoas airflow.

Sometimes reaching it can really help speed, as much as anything due to improved steering and control.