Sailing a Hunter 49

[GailDixon]

We have recently purchased a Hunter 49 and are intending sailing her from Florida to the Virgin Islands via the Bahamas. The boat has a large mainsail but a very small self-furling jib. Several Hunter 49 owners have suggested that we might want to replace the jib with a larger genoa to provide more power. Since we've had little time to sail her ourselves, we'd appreciate your advice. BTW, once we arrive in the V.I.s virtually all of our sailing will be done in the Caribbean where, presumably, winds are normally stronger and steadier. What do you think?
Gail Dixon

[Faster]

I think a good reliable and easy-to-use reefing (likely in mast furliing?) coupled with the smallish jib is going to be plenty esp once you're in 'the chain'....

[Melrna]

Instead of buying a bigger jib, I would look into getting a asymmetrical sail with a ATN sock for easy handling. If you Hunter is like mine, downwind sailing sucks with our B&R rig; spreaders sweep back 30 degrees and small jib. It is my favorite sail. I can sail in light air winds from 170 to 80 degrees. The polars are amazing with this sail vs a larger jib. Also I would consider installing a whisker pole. With the big mainsail, often the jib gets blocked out. Poling out the jib helps capture more wind as the pole helps move the sail forward out of the shadow of the mainsail.

[Brezzin]

I agree with Melissa, I have a 110 jib and added an Asym with sock. The boat is not a light air boat and the Asym made a big difference. I also would add a whisker pole.

[Jeff_H]

The Hunter 49 comes with what would normally be considered a #3 genoa which appears to be roughly a 110 % jib. I think there are several issues with adding a larger genoa on a Hunter 49.

First of all, the Hunter 49 has outboard chainplates. This means that a larger genoa would need to be outside the rail, and so would not permit a sheeting angle that is condusive to upwind sailing. That is okay if the so called genoa is intended only as a reaching sail, but would not be okay if intended for other purposes. I would also think that since the Hunter 49 does not have a fixed backstay, and this sail would be used for reaching where the mainsheet is likely to be slacked slightly, (and so the mainsail would not assist in supoorting the mast) the mast would lack proper support for the mast which would then require you to add running backstays if you indeed add an overlapping jib.

Jeff

[Faster]

If you intend to stay in the Caribbean I'd question the need for an Asymmetrical spinnaker. Up and down the eastern chain you're rarely going to have wide enough angles or little enough wind - at least not often enough to justify the cost and space it will all take.

Perhaps heading from Antigua/Barbuda towards the west it would be useful...

[velero]

Gail,

My 2 centavos - I have a staysail on my 49 from the factory....Priceless. It will help you balance the boat above 25 kts (staysail and reeffed main), the staysail is a lot easier to roll in heavy winds than a larger jib (especially if is in the shadow of the main) and it is self tacking. When you need additional canvas in 8-15 kts you use the main plus both the jib and the staysail. 16-25 kts use main and jib. I also have a asym spinnaker that I use to go about 120 dg off the wing. Plus 1 on the whisker pole but I dont have one yet is on the list.

Velero49