Sail Selection

[hellosailor]

"24-26 knots—First reef in main, first reef in 150% Genoa"
Sounds like a very heavy displacement undercanvassed boat. Running polars, you'll often see better speeds with the first shift down in as little as 14 knots!

[Faster]

CC

The implication in this discussion, i.e. reefing in relatively average wind conditions, was that we were beating to weather. You may well be rail down with high boat speeds and a large bow wave (when you're not spinning out of control) but you will not be making good progress to weather. Leeway will be exaggerated due to the lack of keel effect due to excess heel. Weather helm is probably excessive then too.
To be more technically precise, sailing to weather with the rail in the water is not the most efficient way to get upwind.

[Gene T]

Depends on the boat and the conditions where you sail. Also, a fractional rig or a rig with a small for triangle will require fewer head sails.