So, something of a cross-post here from another thread - similar question (two actually), but different angle:
I've found I like sailing in heavier weather (and my wife does, too), and have been working to learn more about it over the last few seasons. I should add I'm in the PNW, on a 27' masthead sloop, so heavy weather for us is about the bottom end of a USCG small craft warning (21-33 kts).
We've taken what opportunities we could over the last few seasons to learn and practice some heavy weather techniques: especially trimming to 'twist off' the top of the sails, 'active sheeting', and 'pinching off'.
This isn't just for sport: we prefer shoulder-season sailing, recently did our first short ocean hop, and are hoping to build up to a circuit of Haida Gwai. I'd like to feel confident well away from safe harbor in a typical PNW blow (25-35).
But at this point we have run into the limits of our sailplan, I think: we run a 135% genoa, and trying to go to windward much over ~23 starts to result in a buried rail and a lot of strain on the rig, so I'm thinking that the next step is a second, smaller headsail.
1) Thoughts on the best size for a smaller headsail? I'm thinking a 90 (small #3) with roller reefing, which is ideally sized for those 20-25 kt blows, and can reef down to almost a 70% (a small #4) when needed.
2) Any other ideas for study/practice for heavy weather techniques?
I've found I like sailing in heavier weather (and my wife does, too), and have been working to learn more about it over the last few seasons. I should add I'm in the PNW, on a 27' masthead sloop, so heavy weather for us is about the bottom end of a USCG small craft warning (21-33 kts).
We've taken what opportunities we could over the last few seasons to learn and practice some heavy weather techniques: especially trimming to 'twist off' the top of the sails, 'active sheeting', and 'pinching off'.
This isn't just for sport: we prefer shoulder-season sailing, recently did our first short ocean hop, and are hoping to build up to a circuit of Haida Gwai. I'd like to feel confident well away from safe harbor in a typical PNW blow (25-35).
But at this point we have run into the limits of our sailplan, I think: we run a 135% genoa, and trying to go to windward much over ~23 starts to result in a buried rail and a lot of strain on the rig, so I'm thinking that the next step is a second, smaller headsail.
1) Thoughts on the best size for a smaller headsail? I'm thinking a 90 (small #3) with roller reefing, which is ideally sized for those 20-25 kt blows, and can reef down to almost a 70% (a small #4) when needed.
2) Any other ideas for study/practice for heavy weather techniques?