What's too windy for a dinghy sail?

5hortBu5 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

I'm a newbie Javelin (14') skipper, and I'd like to keep from getting in over my head. Any quick and dirty rules of thumb for sailplans for different conditions?

My Main is 90 square feet
My Jib is 35

I'm looking at 15mph winds tonight, and wondering what to fly, or whether or not I should even go out there. What do you all think?

deniseO30 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

What kind of water? It would be exciting in a 14ft boat for sure. Reef the main, let it out later if you feel you need more sail. It appears to be a fractional rig so maybe you don't need the jib if the air is real heavy.
Have fun!

deniseO30 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Oh.. found this nice web site for your boat. lots of info there!

The O'Day Javelin Project

tommays · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Its really something you have to work up to in terms of finding your personal comfort level

Around here the wind builds for a while in the evening and it might start at 15 and peak up much higher for a few hours

ste27 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5hortBu5

I'm a newbie Javelin (14') skipper, and I'd like to keep from getting in over my head. Any quick and dirty rules of thumb for sailplans for different conditions?

My Main is 90 square feet
My Jib is 35

I'm looking at 15mph winds tonight, and wondering what to fly, or whether or not I should even go out there. What do you all think?

15 (so like 13kt) is fine, sail the thing! Ease, hike, trim... and skip the trim if you're not too comfortable with the power.

Reef?? it's a DINGHY you generally can't do such things! Do people here even read the OP's questions/comments or just spout off whatever they feel like?

Anyway, never sailed that particular boat but often times things get weird on dinghies when the correct sail plan (ie all of it) isn't up to balance things - you'll likely just end up with massive weather helm.

I say get out there and have fun - if you're new to the boat, don't go into full point mode and under-trim the main a bit to keep the power off... similarily don't run too deep so you keep the death rolls away and unless you're comfortable with it just do chicken jibes as needed. Get out there on the water, you'll probably find you have a great time, waiting for the perfect day sitting there on land is a good way to make sure you never go out - it'll always be too hot, or too cold, or it might rain in 5 hours, or I don't like the look of that creepy dog over there, or... you get the idea.

What other sailing experience do you have?

deniseO30 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by ste27

15
Reef?? it's a DINGHY you generally can't do such things! Do people here even read the OP's questions/comments or just spout off whatever they feel like?

There ARE REEFS, in the MAIN SAIL, of the oday Javelin and yes, some people do read and yes some people look up the boat BEFORE commenting. errr spouting off,

Sheese!

ste27 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by deniseO30

There ARE REEFS, in the MAIN SAIL, of the oday Javelin and yes, some people do read and yes some people look up the boat BEFORE commenting. errr spouting off,

Sheese!

Alirght - fair enough, my mistake. The fleets I've seen had no reef points and blocks in the middle of the boom - turns out you remove the blocks and rotate the boom... like I said, never sailed 'em and without doing so I guess you'd never know about the roller reefing - dinghies are usually all or nothing, or have different size rigs. I sail a 14' dinghy where the #1 rig is 45' high

Apologies for jumping off a bit but still... reefing in 13? Poor boat won't move!

deniseO30 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Wouldn't make sense to not have some way to reef a day sailer even.. if your out there and the winds kick up you need to reduce sail somehow. OR should be able to. Exclusions being, racing only sails I guess. He's looking at 15 mph he said, and is unsure of his ability. Hell, I sail in winds now that scared me a few years ago.

trisstan87 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Dude just kick it out there. Go out and heel it to the max, if you tip, so what? It's still relatively hot in most places.
I will say this as far as dingy sailing. Sail until you hear the boat talking to you, it will be a humming noise with vinration from the centerboard and or rudder. That will tell you that you are reaching the max. If you continue to push past that then you have three things to look out for.
1. If your clips are plastic, they will begin popping off the mast.
2. If your clips are metal, they won't pop off the mast but you risk a tear in the sails.
3. You will end up keeling over which is actually a lot of fun in warm water.

Wind is not a major concern for dinghy sailling. Wave height is much more important. Of course I am not saying to go out in 25 knots with a 14' boat, I'm just telling you that you can. Just be mindful of what your dinghy is telling you.

ste27 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by deniseO30

Wouldn't make sense to not have some way to reef a day sailer even.. if your out there and the winds kick up you need to reduce sail somehow. OR should be able to. Exclusions being, racing only sails I guess. He's looking at 15 mph he said, and is unsure of his ability. Hell, I sail in winds now that scared me a few years ago.

What kind of wind speeds to you usually reef at? Just curious... the only boats I sail on that you can even reef are 40'+ - the rest are obviously racers and it's just lots more rig tension, more outhaul, more cunnignham, more vang, more backstay, MORE backstay, ease sheet etc and HIKE!!!!

Full main + 100% blade makes for a fun day in 30!

Even more fun when the kite goes up