Staysails

[Mystic38]

This is not the thread for your question, as this is specifically about staysails.

I suggest you look at some basic information on headsails, but to answer your specific questions.
a) a genoa is simply a jib of greater than 100%, as you put it "a genoa extends beyond the mast"
b) you tack the sail you have. The less sail area the quicker this is accomplished, but there is no specific or inherent disadvantage or issue in tacking a genoa. It is hard to tack any headsail if there is an inner forestay.
c) There is NO disadvantage to a genoa. For lighter winds, you fly more sail area. conversely the stronger the wind, the less sail area.. .... So, while it can be overpowered in strong winds but a jib is equally underpowered in light airs.

if you have further questions I suggest you start a new thread

Originally Posted by sthomper

i have read there is a distinction between somethign called a genoa sail and a jib sail...that being that a genoa sail extends beyond the mast???

if this is true, is there any advantage in tacking maneuvers to using a jib over a genoa???

or has technology of some sort overcome any alleged (so i have read) disadvantage of genoa sails???

[charliehows]

i covet a staysail - i mostly sail solo and i dont think anyone has mentioned one of the more obvious advantages of a staysail - self tacking...quite advantageous in tight waterways.

[Dockhead]

What we always said about staysails is that they are magic --

Put the staysail up, and you lose half a knot.

Put the staysail away, and you lose half a knot


I seem to get a bit of drive out of mine on a beam reach, but otherwise not. Possibly I don't know how to trim it, and probably it's not even possible to trim it properly since it's self-tacking with a single sheet and no other control.


Nevertheless, it's great to have because --

a. It is a superb always ready storm sail. By the time I'm reefed to the third spreader, the yankee gets put away, and boat balances magnificently with the staysail, which, even better, is self-tacking so that whole rig has become self-tacking, a welcome reduction of work load when it's blowing hard.

b. It looks cool.

[cheoah]

My last boat, a cape dory 30 had a self tacking staysail. I ran a staysail and reefed main a lot with that boat, made it very simple singlehanding. The only limitation was it was permanently rigged and much of the time I wanted it out of the way, so I could run a big light air sail, hanked on and tack/gybe it without going forward.

My current boat is rigged with a removable inner stay and adjustable backstays to tighten up the program. I really haven't sailed with it yet, but it sheets well inboard and is exactly what I wanted. It gives me a lot of confidence being able to really drop some sail area but still maintain control and headway. I have yet to heave to with staysail either. Lazy I guess, need to try it before I need it. The sail says it is a Yankee, and I guess it is cut high.

I also remember getting some extra push on a beam reach with the Cape Dory running the stays'l. My favorite combo at 15 knots true was full main, Yankee headsail, and stays'l. At 20, reefed the main.

Of course that was before roller furling. I really like the harken furling on my pacific seacraft. That's why I haven't run the stays'l, because even though the shape is not so great, it gets me where I need to go and is simple.

[S/V Alchemy]

I have a true cutter, or at least what passes for one today: a large (about 130%) Yankee on a heavy bowsprit two feet forward of the bow, and a largish staysail terminating at the bow (actually, inside the anchor well). It has been quite a learning experience monkeying with sail set to achieve the full benefit of the staysail.

At 32 knots, I can hit hull speed on a reach under staysail alone, which is rather impressive in a 15 tonne steel 41-footer. I am going to have either a second "storm" staysail made (smaller, heavier, with a pendant), or have a new one made with reefing cringles, so I can "shorten" it to about 60% of its area. Combined with a third reef, or with a trysail, I figure I can work (poorly, like 75 degrees) to windward past 40 knots with such a rig, or off the wind in 50. After that, I would heave to, a situation in which the staysail is again a great help.

Strangely, it was by using the large "genoa staysail" in my long foredecked IOR '73 boat that I glimpsed how the staysail could do what they rather interesting article of Mr. Gentry states. That was a strange sail, indeed, but I've used it on the return leg of cruising spinnaker runs with some success.

[JerryW]

I'm a novice sailor with a small Cutter. I'm still tinkering, but I agree heartily with Delmarrey about sail balance. In strong winds, I use the stay-sail and the single-reefed main. The boat is beautifully balanced and I can lock the tiller down (Tiller Tamer) and the boat self-steers on all points from close-hauled to a beam reach.

I've not much experience with all 3 sails flying. My foresail is a 100% jib - Yeah it does look COOL with all the sails up!

Jerry
Montgomery M-23 Offshore Cutter
out of Port Kinsale
Yeocomico River
Lower Potomac