headsail terminology questions (heavy/light)

[Silmaril]

Just for haha's, here is what is concidered a full complement of racing sails for my 1976 IOR Heritage One Tonner:

Difter
Light No. 1
Heavy No. 1
No. 2
No, 3
No. 4
1/2oz Radial Spin
3/4oz Tri-Radial Spin.
1.5oz Tri-Radial Spin.
1.5oz Star Cut Spin.
3/4oz. Blooper
Bananna Staysail
Main Sail

Optional, but I don't have, would be a Storm Jib and Storm Trysail.

I have at least one, in some cases two, and some even three, of each in the loft over my garage.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by ste27

Trimmed by raising and lowering the halyard.

Now let us never speak of this abomination again

From the depths of time came the unspeakable horror....

Hey, at least I can reuse the sail bags.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by tommays

Are light # 1 is good for 9 knots and the heavy #1 about 20

The light #1 3DL requires repiars EVERY race because the film is so thing it cant take wacking anything during a tack SO we really try not to use it

I think that's very boat specific. I have seen lights used to higher speeds than 9 knots in the 32-36 foot range, but 20 knots is pretty stiff for even a heavy #1 unless you've got a shortish J measurement, I would think.

When solo sailing (not racing) in say, 10-15 knots, I use my No. 2 because it is usually sufficient to push the boat to within a half knot of hull speed and is naturally easier to handle. But I don't see many No. 2s these days, as most racing types still using hank-ons seem to use the No. 1 until they're going sideways, and then they switch to a No. 3 and then a single reef in the main.

[blt2ski]

Val,

Folks may not be using a #2 these days, as I found by accident recently on a short handed race, that a double reefed main with a 155 was faster and easier to handle than a 110 and full main in the conditions I was in for a short time. This may be why some folks hang on to a #1/155 or equal as long as they do.

I also use smaller jibs in some wind conditions when it is just wife and I, as we do not have the rail meat to keep the boat level. One needs to also keep this issue in mind when sailing/racing too.

Marty

[Valiente]

True. Because it's just me and I have a typical early '70s J of 15 feet over 33.5 LOA, I like to keep the main unreefed as long as possible, because it's quite doable to just use the main alone if things get squirrelly as it's tall and narrow.

Anyway, I use the 2 and 3 when alone because it's a drag to fold up the number 1 when the beer has yet to get cold.

[mgiguere]

My #1 is a 155 and the #2 was a 135 until we shredded it in a storm last summer. We had it re-cut to a 110 which the sailmaker called a "lapper". We now use it most every day unless we need the #3 (70%). It's high cut and goes to windward very well. With one or two reefs in our fully battened high roach main, is the perfect combination.

Moe