Storm sails

[ralphmacey]

Thanks to everyone for input on storm sails. I need to research installing a solent stay for my boat, a HR 352. Anybody ever use the ATN gale sail?

[ralphmacey]

as far as light sails go would you go for a asymetrical "reacher or runner"?

[robert sailor]

The choice of light air sails would be based on your confidence levels. If your used to flying spinnakers short handed then that's a good choice as you have quite a wide range of angles in lighter air but if your not that confident maybe you might be more comfortable with a real light reaching sail that can fly with its own wire luff.
If your sailing in trade wind areas then a double headsail rig is a nice way to go and this is using white sails that are much easier to handle. I think the main thing is chose something that is easy for you and that way you'll use it. Personally I'm very comfortable flying a full racing chute with just the 2 of us but my favorite sail combo in the trades is 2 headsails raised together in the double luff grove both poled out. If the breeze starts to freshen then you can furl them both in a bit simply by easing the poles forward and furling some of the sails in. When the air is real light furl both sails until they are board flat and often they will keep you going better than a spinnaker. If a squall is unavoidable ease the poles forward and furl the sails down to a scrap each. You can also adjust the sails from a run to a shallow broad reach by pulling one pole forward a bit and easing the other. Nice easy way to go

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by ralphmacey

I am planning on crossing the Atlantic, East to West in June 2014. My question is about storm sails. I have three reefs in a new main and a roller reeding jib. How important is it that I have storm sails?

UK to US or Canary Island to the West Indies?

I think on the Northern route they are a must and on the Southern Route they are a wise precaution.

The kind of sails you want depends on the kind of rig you have.

A strong, flat, orange jib is a very, very nice thing to have onboard, especially if you can fly yours from an inner stay.

b.

[Cheechako]

Trysail... not so important. Storm jib or staysail... important. JMHO

[ralphmacey]

i meant crossing from West to East, but I have not chosen the route yet.