I have a tiny, homemade jib for my P-15 that I use in high winds. It's under 11 SF! (working jib 23 sf, lapper 30 sf) As small as it is, when the wind is 20+ knots my little jib is just the ticket, with big improvements in pointing ability and speed. I think this is because the wind's pressure per square foot goes up with the square of the speed, thus if your current jib works well in 10 knots, a jib one fourth its size would work well in 20 knots. Additionally, the center of effort is lowered in height (usually). Anyhow, it works for me!

Fair winds,

Steve Tyree
P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann"

In a message dated 6/29/2003 4:22:46 PM Central Standard Time, diklang32@hotmail.com writes:

With all this talk of reefing, heaving to, I often find myself in the
thick of things wishing I could use a smaller head sail. I have a 150 genoa
and a std jib. Does any one have a recomendation for the size of the
headsail to use when reefed? I thought a storm headsail was the right way to
go but have been told that is terribley small.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Dik Lang
M-17 #375
Vashon Is. Wa.