Sailing with furling jib only...instead of main only

[souljour2000]

I have an older Seafarer 24 with a masthead rig on which I usually have a %100 furling jib and a fairly old and stretched mainsail. I often use just the jib to get out of a mooring field or to run with the wind when it's going my way and I have noticed that I don't see many others doing the same..mostly just folks using their mainsail by itself....when going with only one sail.

I have heard somewhere that using just the jib can stress the rig but I usually furl the jib in some to about 80 percent and I have a strong split backstay and generally a strong rig with two lowers and an upper that are probably oversized by today's standards on a boat of this size...1/4 inch. Is this a good idea..seems okay to me but I still have doubts and don't want to damage my rig or stress it unnecessarily. Thanks in advance for any comments

[Sublime]

How does that stress the rig any more than going under main and jib?

My drascomb has two side stays and no back stay. When reefing the main and jib isn't enough, it's recommended to drop the main and go under jib and mizzen alone. The difference I suspect is that I can use the mizzen to balance. So maybe it's stress on the rudder is what people question. But if you're not hard over to keep her going straight, I don't see any difference from being under main alone.

[ccriders]

There is an article somewhere on the internet about this exact issue. There have been reports of rig failure while sailing with jib alone. As I remember the story, it involved rigs with only one lower shroud and significant mast "pumping". The conclusion of the article is that for rigs with two lower shrouds you can run with either main alone or jib alone, but that if you have a single lower shroud you should run with main alone as the boom and sail reinforce the mast and eliminate "pumping".
In your case, it sounds like you have a very stout rig and if you do not see any "mast pumping" then you are probably safe with either jib only or main only.
John

[priscilla]

Not so much in very lite air but the jib alone will stress the rig. The mainsail supports the rig...main and jib together is the way to go.

[WouldaShoulda]

I'm calling Mythbusters!!

[scottyt]

heck i sailed under jib alone alot, even a 155 genny. on my boat my main is small compared to a 100 % jib, even smaller with the 155. i think it depends a lot on the rig design, there is no way my main gives any support to the mast.

also, look at running under a spin, it is just like a big jib and they get run with out the main all the time.

[delite]

Once in a while when I go for a quick sail to get away for a couple of hours by myself I will be lazy and only pull the 150 Genoa and not raise the main. It doesnt sail the same but I dont think it does any damage. Interested to hear others thoughts.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by delite

Once in a while when I go for a quick sail to get away for a couple of hours by myself I will be lazy and only pull the 150 Genoa and not raise the main. It doesnt sail the same but I dont think it does any damage. Interested to hear others thoughts.

Yeap, I see a lot of sailboats sail with jib only around Bay Bridge in Chesapeake. bring out the jib is much easier than to raise the main.

[souljour2000]

Thanks for the comments folks..like I said..I got two sets of lowers and an upper...the mast seems supported well and the split backstay adjustment should probably be tightened...the spinnaker example seems to be a good one Scotty.....overall it seems okay to me as long as you have good support on the mast but I am not knowledgeable about rig stress much yet.

[tommays]

I really dont see how it would stress the rig

i would look at the wire under the furler once in a while a my unit had worn a got bit of wire away under the upper bushing suggesting there is a good bit of load there