Jeanneau 40.3 Sunfast as blue water?

[carstenb]

Anyone have experience with the Sun Fast as a blue water cruiser? particularly the traveler which I would like ro move from the cockpit to the rooftop in front of the spray hood. this is where the 40.3 sun odsessy has it and the two boats have exactly the same hull roof etc. The sunfast has a longer mast and longer boom

[Polux]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Anyone have experience with the Sun Fast as a blue water cruiser? particularly the traveler which I would like ro move from the cockpit to the rooftop in front of the spray hood. this is where the 40.3 sun odsessy has it and the two boats have exactly the same hull roof etc. The sunfast has a longer mast and longer boom

I don’t see any problem if you equip the boat adequately : Removable stay sail, storm jib, third reef on the main, jack lines and so on.

However I don’t understand why you want to move the traveler over the cockpit. Like it is gives you control of the main from the wheel. If you put it over the cockpit you have to leave the wheel to control the main.

[carstenb]

Moving the traveler out of the cockpit gives a lot more freedom of movement. The traveler sheet currently goes from the back end of the boom, along the boom to the mast then through a series of tackles and return to the cockpit where the helmsman can control it. So moving the actual traveler won't change control from the cockpit. The arrangement is a sort of modified "German" mainsail.

[holmek]

Do you mean traveller or main sheet? I have an O'Day 40 which is essentially a Jeanneau Sun Fizz. I have crossed the Atlantic in her and am totally in love with my boat. The main sheet is led to the cockpit, (you need to leave the wheel to attend to it), but I sail singlehanded and seldom steer, my windvane does that. The traveller is over the cabin top and is adjusted from either side deck. My main issue on an ocean crossing is chafe of the rollerfurler halyard at the masthead, in spite of having one of those halyard leaders below the masthead sheave. I have now stitched on a thin leather covering to protect that spot. I have only 2 reef points on the main and am intending having a third, slab reef point fitted with a bull hook at the gooseneck and a simple tackle at the clew.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Moving the traveler out of the cockpit gives a lot more freedom of movement. The traveler sheet currently goes from the back end of the boom, along the boom to the mast then through a series of tackles and return to the cockpit where the helmsman can control it. So moving the actual traveler won't change control from the cockpit. The arrangement is a sort of modified "German" mainsail.

Certainly is not so bad as if the boat had not a German sheet system. However on the vast majority of situations the control you use more on a main sail is the traveler. Even on a normal wind gust if you let go the travel, it will be more than enough to regain control. Putting the travel away from you and you will have to let go all the sail and then pull it all back again. That is a lot more trouble and require a lot more effort and strength.

Off course all things are a trade off and the travel over the cockpit will be certainly best for guests, but not for the one that is sailing the boat.

Regards

Paulo