Sailing with Jib Only

[Ron]

I was wondering what peoples experience was when sailing under the jib alone?

Today I took my family for a sail. The wind was about 20 mph, there were some white caps. I was thinking of reefing the main but then decided to go with only my genoa jib unfurled about 40%. With the centerboard down and both rudders she behaved well. I thought with all the force forward she might be unbalanced but she wasn't.

Also, I was able stay just above 5 mph (as measured on my GPS). Not bad for half the genoa only. Although another similar sized boat passed my fairly easily with reefed main and jib.

Next time I'll try with just a reefed main to compare.

[DLT]

That is my high wind setup...jib only...works great...

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i know a Mac X owner who mainly motors. thus, sails only under jib, doesn't even attach his boom, and is quite happy with the performance.

i always have my boom attached just in case.

Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90 TLDI

[baldbaby2000]

I sail at times with only a headsail but I'm always conscious of strain on the rigging. I have an M so there is no backstay (I plan on adding running backstays soon). Part of the load of the rigging is designed to be taken by the mainsail and mainsheet. Without the main up all the load is on the shrouds.

Another caution I've read with any sloop rigged boat is that in heavy seas without the main up and only a headsail there is a lot more peak load applied to the rigging as the boat goes up and down in the swells.

[They Theirs]

Topping Lift with the Mainsheet down tight should help maintain forestay tension on the "M"?

[Jeff S]

I have sailed the X with jib or genny only a number of times in strong winds. It sails just fine. It is easy to single hand this way in strong winds as well.

Jeff S

[ALX357]

My X won't balance with just a regular jib sheeted at the cabin-top blocks, because the forces are all forward.
But it does fine with the Genoa, out all the way, or partially furled, and sheeted to the blocks on the cockpit coaming. The forces are spread between the nose, the mast, and aft, and the balance does fine, without any mainsail. 'Strong topping lift, mainsheet tight, and backstay adjusted tight, to maintain fore-stay tension.

[delevi]

I sailed with only the jib in 30 mph+ winds, gusting to 40+ The rig took it just fine. They Theirs, great thought on the topping lift with main sheet cleated tight. The only problem sailing with jib alone in heavy winds is that pointing ability is serious diminished. I believe the M and the X behave differently. The X seems to have more trouble with only one sail up, where the M seems to do fine.

[They Theirs]

delevi

Yes the M sails great on the Main alone (Baldheaded) I have no experience with the X but many have noted they sail better with their headsail than baldheaded. I believe you are correct, that the M and X are somewhat different under sail.