Suijin, yes, the solent is aft of the RF, as shown on the pdfs.
Also I just checked my older drawings, and yes the old North 140% (354 sf) would sheet to 10.5 degrees, (I loved that sail, and the 95% too) in plan, measuring the line from the clew to the tack, and the angle to the centerline. I usually trimmed the leech away from the spreader by about 2-3" however. The new
Hood 135% (328sf) obviously does not sheet to 10.5 degrees and is perhaps 11-11.5 degrees. It is however more forgiving on the higher end of the wind range because of the area, the shorter luff to fit on the solent, and the lower center of effort.
When the
jib is rigged to the solent, I am inclined towards a sheeting angle of 12-13 degrees for the jib, due
power needed for heavier winds and seas (as pointed out). At 13 degrees sheeting angle, the jib would sheet inside only the cap
shroud and be about 85%LP which is closer to the 90%-95% LP that I've found is useful for spring & fall.
Then in the spring-fall when I normally use the smaller jib rigged on the forward
roller furler it might even sheet to a 11-12 degrees because the clew will probably clear the lower forestay. I think using a centerline barberhauler and releading the jib
sheets from the railing track (adjusting the cars) will
work for upwind sailing. The centerline barberhauler will require some higher forces to sheet the jib in.
However I hope that hoisting the bagged 85% (205sf) jib on the solent as wind increases, and bagging it as the wind lessens, it proves to be manageable. I think I may ask for two jiffy
reefs, even though Jim Cate found them useless. I think this jib would qualify for a ISAF heavy
weather jib, but it is probably too big and UK says it needs to be low stretch material and have battens. I am thinking I'd rather have no battens or just short vertical (for RF) to make it easier to bag the sail.
As you've suggested, I'll be asking the
sailmaker about all this, but this has helped me think about the jib's use in practice and to establish what size jib and sheeting angles are likely to be appropriate.
I'll report back later. Thank you all for your help thinking about this.
PS: If you have further thoughts on this, I'd love to read them.