Light Air Sails - Advice Please

[Munjon]

Hey Gang I need some help. Should I get a 90 sq metre MPS for light air with a sockfor a short handed crew going offshore, or should I get and use a 45 sq metre drifter that I can pole out opposite my genoa for down hill Trade wind sailing.

Sailmakers are trying to get me to buy the MPS. A cruising buddy said dont take the MPS but to get the twin headsail set up.

What do you cruisers suggest

Thanks

[Stede]

Munjon,

You ask a some what tricky question.I have both a tri-radial racing spinnaker with a pole and all the associated hardware,and a asymmetrical cruising spinnaker with a sock, and a device called a "tacker" that fits over my furled genny and attaches to the tack of the cruising chute. Of the two, I use the cruising chute the most. IMO, there are pros and cons of both.The Tri-radial is really a better downwind sail, while the asymmetrical is more of a reaching sail. I sail single-handed most of the time on my 26 footer, and really like the ease of using the cruising chute with the sock. I can rig everything in a few minutes, fly the chute,and then take it down in a few minutes. I really enjoy flying the sail and look forward to every opportunity to do so.With my racing chute, it's a major ordeal rigging everything, then de-rigging it after I'm done,especially on the small deck of a 26 footer.I don't enjoy using it near as much. I'm sure there are other sailors on this board that have a differing opinion. Just my $.02 worth

[BC Mike]

I think it could be a matter of what it the easiest to steer. I have not been offshore with our boat so do not have all the answers. Those that have been offshore seem to like two headsails up. I tried sailing with the big chute by myself and let the autohelm steer. This only worked in a bit of breeze. As soon as it got windy we went splat. With two headsail up and a reef in the main it was easy to handle. So the chute is likely the best up to a certain windspeed and then two headsails. I have never tried a cruising chute but wonder if the big headsail and a staysail would work as well. Sometimes the waves may dictate that straight downwind is best, other times you may be able to do a broad reach. With a limited crew a chute will have limited use but would be better for light air. I know lots of variables. BC Mike C