How Many Sails Do You Take Cruising ?

[Zednotzee]

For those who've spent a month or more on the boat, how many sails do you take? Which ones have you found to be most useful? Does this vary depending on where you plan to cruise?

[s/v Moondancer]

There really isn't any room for spare sails. If I did not have a cutter with a genoa and a jib I might carry a spare head sail...but all I carry is a very comprehensive sail repair kit and have the sails refurbished at least once a year.

We carry a asymmetric but it is rarely used.

[rebel heart]

We carry a drifter and a trysail in addition to the working sails of the typical main, staysail (which can be reefed), and yankee.

The drifter is one of the reasons that we don't use a lot of diesel and the trysail fortunately I've never had to use.

[cabo_sailor]

Truthfully, I've not been out a month or more, prior to my retirement 2-3 weeks has been it. For what its worth, my boat is cutter rigged and I find that just fine. I do carry an asymmetrical spinnaker for low wind conditions. I find it more comfortable to wait out a front and leave after it has passed. The post front passage usually has light winds and I use the spinnaker to save fuel by not having to motor.


Rich

[Liam Wald]

Four sails.
135% roller furling genoa
roller furling main
asymetrical spinnaker
storm jib (hanks on over furled genoa) GALE SAIL.

[S/V Alchemy]

No. 1, 2 and 3. No. 4 storm jib. Main. Genoa staysail. Assy. spin.

Cripes, that's seven. Better leave the staysail behind!

[Pete7]

Furling Main
Genoa
Storm jib
Cruising chute (asymmetrical spinnaker)
Spare roller Genoa, No2 size
Spare hank on Genoa, No2 size

We were lucky enough to pick up a the last two on e bay out of season, both in excellent condition. There is also a spare main, but its old so lives in the garage, should get rid of it really as its never going to be used.

Pete

[Unicorn Dreams]

135% Genoa

100% Jib

Storm Jib

Main w/3 reefs

Mizzen w/2 reefs

Storm Mizzen never used

[barnakiel]

10
top rig sloop

- main,
- spare main,
- tri,
- big jib (furling),
- spare big jib (furling),
- jib,
- storm jib,
- chute,
- small chute,
- spinnaker.

But it is an overkill, mostly because I will keep the older sails that we no longer actually use. I frankly believe we could do with just 7 or 8 sails.

b.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by Liam Wald

Four sails.
135% roller furling genoa
roller furling main
asymetrical spinnaker
storm jib (hanks on over furled genoa) GALE SAIL.

I've been lusting after one of those.... your thoughts on the Gale Sail?

[matauwhi]

G'day, mates.

2 mains
2 yankees
2 staysails
1 storm jib
1 trisail
1 150% genoa
1 spinnaker

I gusess that makes 10. Lots of rooms to store uncluttered below decks. Cheers.

[Zednotzee]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

10...
But it is an overkill...

See, that's my "problem", though it's a good problem I think. The boat came with:
main (w/ roach)
spare main (no roach)
110% genoa on roller furler
120% genoa, hanks
light air genoa on hanks
mizzen
drifter
storm jib on hanks
trisail

...and I've added a cruising chute.

I'm having the storm jib converted to a Gale Sail, provided it's still in good enough condition. I'm also considering having the two genoas converted to roller furling, but I'm wondering if the 120% might be better cut down as an 80-90% jib instead.

[Catamount]

main
135% genoa
100% jib
heavy weather staysail
storm jib (staysail)
storm trysail
0.75 ounce symmetrical spinnaker
also have 0.5 and 1.5 ounce spinnakers and a windseeker (spinnaker staysail),
but don't always carry them

[Therapy]

Main
Roller furling jib.

Only coastal though.

I aim to get a screecher/asymetrical. Just haven't made the effort yet. It would have come in handy on our month long cruise last year.

[Hydra]

Main (3 reefs)
Genoa, on hanks
Working jib, on hanks
Solent jib, on hanks
No 2 jib, on hanks
Storm jib, on hanks (not used yet)
Symmetrical spinnaker

I am also considering a storm trysail.

Alain