Light wind sail for 26S
- Stickinthemud57
- Captain
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- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:50 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Light wind sail for 26S
As retirement nears I am planning to spend even more time sailing, likely to the Texas Gulf Coast, larger lakes, etc., and want to explore sails that will serve me in lower winds.
I sail a 26S. My current rig is a standard mainsail with 2 reefing points and a 104% jib (hanked on, standard forestay). I have a 150% Genoa, but I plan to sell it since in terms of square footage it is only 13% larger than my 104% jib and does not point as well.
For now I am leaning away from a spinnaker, and toward something that is easier to manage since I single-hand a lot.
Options I am considering:
1. Gennaker
2. Drifter
3. Code Zero
4. Cruising Chute?
What I think I know:
-Code Zeros can sail upwind or downwind, and are less expensive and easier to manage than a spinnaker, but best managed using roller furling.
-Gennakers are optimal for a beam reach and are less expensive and easier to manage than a spinnaker.
-Any of the three can be used to sail to windward.
I am not planning on using this sail for racing, nor to deploy it in winds upwards of 12 mph.
I am not yet ready to go to roller furling just yet, so I'm thinking the Code Zero might not be the best choice for me.
I prefer not to add any additional halyards or bowsprit, but am not entirely against doing so if it makes sense.
I'm looking for something that is:
-Easily deployed, managed, and taken down singlehandedly.
-Can sail to windward (not close-hauled, of course)
-Is useful sailing downwind as well.
-As inexpensive as reasonably possible.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice!
I sail a 26S. My current rig is a standard mainsail with 2 reefing points and a 104% jib (hanked on, standard forestay). I have a 150% Genoa, but I plan to sell it since in terms of square footage it is only 13% larger than my 104% jib and does not point as well.
For now I am leaning away from a spinnaker, and toward something that is easier to manage since I single-hand a lot.
Options I am considering:
1. Gennaker
2. Drifter
3. Code Zero
4. Cruising Chute?
What I think I know:
-Code Zeros can sail upwind or downwind, and are less expensive and easier to manage than a spinnaker, but best managed using roller furling.
-Gennakers are optimal for a beam reach and are less expensive and easier to manage than a spinnaker.
-Any of the three can be used to sail to windward.
I am not planning on using this sail for racing, nor to deploy it in winds upwards of 12 mph.
I am not yet ready to go to roller furling just yet, so I'm thinking the Code Zero might not be the best choice for me.
I prefer not to add any additional halyards or bowsprit, but am not entirely against doing so if it makes sense.
I'm looking for something that is:
-Easily deployed, managed, and taken down singlehandedly.
-Can sail to windward (not close-hauled, of course)
-Is useful sailing downwind as well.
-As inexpensive as reasonably possible.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice!
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
- dlandersson
- Admiral
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- Location: Michigan City
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- Deckhand
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- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:48 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Reno, NV
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
I think I'm a little confused about something. How is a 150 only 13% larger than a jib?
My 26S came with a genoa that, by measuring, I've come to believe is a 130 or 135, which I thought was about 30-35% bigger than the original working jib. It looks about that much bigger and I think that's what crude math would say (not accounting for curvature or if the standard jib was 104).
The boat doesn't point quite as high, but it's not bad, maybe 5-10 degrees less. The additional power is quite noticeable and quite frankly I would be a little afraid of a larger sail that I would think of as a 150. At my current skill level it's about all I can handle singlehanded.
My 26S came with a genoa that, by measuring, I've come to believe is a 130 or 135, which I thought was about 30-35% bigger than the original working jib. It looks about that much bigger and I think that's what crude math would say (not accounting for curvature or if the standard jib was 104).
The boat doesn't point quite as high, but it's not bad, maybe 5-10 degrees less. The additional power is quite noticeable and quite frankly I would be a little afraid of a larger sail that I would think of as a 150. At my current skill level it's about all I can handle singlehanded.
- Stickinthemud57
- Captain
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:50 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Grapevine, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
My apologies if I am stating something you already know...
I used to think that a 150% sail would be 50% bigger in total square footage than a 100% sail. Not so.
Sail percentages are calculated using a formula which I won't bother including here. Easier just to use this calculator:
https://sailingfortuitous.com/jib-calc/
Using this formula, it is possible to have a foresail with significantly more or less square footage without a big change in percentage. Todd McChessney used this fact to great advantage when designing the "Big Jib" for the 26S and D models.
You are correct in pointing out that the curvature of the sail will affect the actual square footage of surface area.
I used to think that a 150% sail would be 50% bigger in total square footage than a 100% sail. Not so.
Sail percentages are calculated using a formula which I won't bother including here. Easier just to use this calculator:
https://sailingfortuitous.com/jib-calc/
Using this formula, it is possible to have a foresail with significantly more or less square footage without a big change in percentage. Todd McChessney used this fact to great advantage when designing the "Big Jib" for the 26S and D models.
You are correct in pointing out that the curvature of the sail will affect the actual square footage of surface area.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
-
- Deckhand
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:48 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Reno, NV
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
Wow, the math to find the clew isn't fun. I thought it was going to be, I was wrong and it got weird, so I gave up.
Does your genoa go to the top of your forestay, assuming you have it mounted higher than factory for the larger jib?
Does your genoa go to the top of your forestay, assuming you have it mounted higher than factory for the larger jib?
- Stickinthemud57
- Captain
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:50 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
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Re: Light wind sail for 26S
Yes, I did not go into the formula for a reason! Thank goodness for the calculators.KingRichard wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 6:23 pm Wow, the math to find the clew isn't fun. I thought it was going to be, I was wrong and it got weird, so I gave up.
Does your genoa go to the top of your forestay, assuming you have it mounted higher than factory for the larger jib?
My old genoa (142.5% or thereabouts, and 163.25 sf in 2D) was a true fractional rig, with the forestay about 5 feet down from the top of the mast.
My now "Big Jib" calculates to about 103%, with 135.5 sf. It required re-rigging, which puts the forestay about 1 foot down from the top of the mast. So, not a true fractional, and not a true masthead. Yes, my Big Jib foresail goes to the top of the forestay.
Full disclosure, I had my foresail custom made by Sail Warehouse just a tad bigger than Blue Water Yachts' version.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
- EvenKeel16
- Just Enlisted
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- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2022 1:44 pm
- Location: Florida panhandle
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
I really like the difter sail i got this year - picture. But after this i'm kinda of interested in the big jib also.
question for you guys with drifters - I'm running mine outside the shrouds with (at least for now) the sheet running back through the rear cleat then back up to the winch and cam cleat. Does this sound okay?
question for you guys with drifters - I'm running mine outside the shrouds with (at least for now) the sheet running back through the rear cleat then back up to the winch and cam cleat. Does this sound okay?
- Stickinthemud57
- Captain
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:50 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Re: Light wind sail for 26S
Looking at your pic, I'm thinking the cleat you are referring to is the fairlead that the blue rope is passing through before going to the winch, correct? If so, it makes sense to me as long as you can trim it to your liking.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.
-
- Deckhand
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:48 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Reno, NV
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
I found the big jib review you did, very nice. Also, it explains why your having a tough time finding an appealing foresail that's more powerfulStickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:08 pm
My old genoa (142.5% or thereabouts, and 163.25 sf in 2D) was a true fractional rig, with the forestay about 5 feet down from the top of the mast.
My now "Big Jib" calculates to about 103%, with 135.5 sf. It required re-rigging, which puts the forestay about 1 foot down from the top of the mast. So, not a true fractional, and not a true masthead. Yes, my Big Jib foresail goes to the top of the forestay.
- Stickinthemud57
- Captain
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:50 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
- Location: Grapevine, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Light wind sail for 26S
Thanks for that. I was considering looking for a drifter or other light wind sail even before I did the Big Jib upgrade. In a few races over the last year the wind dropped below 6 mph, and boy would a bigger sail have been helpful!KingRichard wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 6:54 pmI found the big jib review you did, very nice. Also, it explains why your having a tough time finding an appealing foresail that's more powerfulStickinthemud57 wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:08 pm
My old genoa (142.5% or thereabouts, and 163.25 sf in 2D) was a true fractional rig, with the forestay about 5 feet down from the top of the mast.
My now "Big Jib" calculates to about 103%, with 135.5 sf. It required re-rigging, which puts the forestay about 1 foot down from the top of the mast. So, not a true fractional, and not a true masthead. Yes, my Big Jib foresail goes to the top of the forestay.
The key to inner peace is to admit you have a problem and leave it at that.