Hi Tom. I've sailed under small headsail alone a few times (the boat still points quite well...), but prefer to reef the main when sailing in higher winds. The luff of the jib Don built for me is a foot or 18 inches short of the full length of the fore-stay, and I use a length of pendent at the tack so I have a bit of viewing distance under the sail. Works good, and I understand most of the work is being performed at the top of the sail anyway. t On Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 9:18 PM, Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com> wrote:
Don Yager sent me a description of the 80% jib he built for Tom Smith. It sounds "bomb proof" and of excellent quality. He said I could use it to sail back (up wind) when conditions did not permit use of an outboard, too much wave action I presume. Tom or anybody, have you used just a jib to sail to windward in blustery conditions? Seems like with the lee helm generated (?) you couldn't point very high with just that jib set. Is that "80" cut high enough so you can see under it when heeled over? It is pricey but having been blown down wind from my take out point at one time (was not flying a jib, just the main on my 17) I know that isn't much fun.
fair winds, Tom B, Mont.17 #258, "AS IS"