Replace Genoa with Jib?

[ualpow]

My 150 Genny is about to blow out. I want to get a replacement sail for next season but not sure what route to take. The Judy B sails look awesome and well priced for what you get. But the BWY stock ones are very reasonable.
The other thing is should I get another 150 Genoa or switch to a 100 Jib? I am sailing on southern lake Michigan and the wind speed varies greatly during the season. I like the idea of pointing higher with the jib unless that is a myth. But if I can get decent sail shape with luff pads on the partially furled Genoa that would be cool to.
I guess I could get the Jib and have it for when the Genoa blows out.
Anyone with advice on this?

[mastreb]

With highly variable winds, I think you're best off with roller furler. This allows you to size the headsail according to the wind speed and hold a very even heel managing variations with the mainsheet.

You can point pretty well with a RF Genoa rolled down to 100% and with your sheets moved to the cabin-top. Yes, a hank-on jib will do a bit better, but that's its only advantage--on all other points of sail, an RF genoa is superior.

If you're going to suffer the performance hit of a roller furler, then there's no reason not to go with a 150 genoa.

Just my opinion. The other option is to have multiple headsails and change them depending on your season/preference. But if you're only going to have one headsail on a Mac, I'm convinced that the 150 RF Genoa is the one.

[kadet]

Struggling with this very question. Was going to refurb my Genny but with the advice, cost and willing wife I am now getting a new headsail. I have an Asym Spinnaker for light work but find the Genny too much with our afternoon sea breezes and furling it is a pain, factory furler is marginal at best.

I think I am going to get a custom oversized jib made up (110% Genoa maybe?) that extends past the mast but not past the swept back shrouds so I can still sheet in close.

I am then getting a flying sail furler for the Asym so I can easily fly the Asym semi permanently kind of like a solent rig I have a snuffer but find that still a tad inconvenient especially sailing single handed or near enough to single handed most of the time.

It is going to cost way more than I planned but in the end I think it will be a very easy way to sail in almost any conditions. Best Christmas present ever from wife, besides the boat itself of cause

[ualpow]

I have a CDI furler. I think I will go with the better quality Genoa.

[Catigale]

You will point better with the jib. In light air, you can go back to your blown out Genny of course. The sail change on the CDI isnt easy, however, so you might want to think about running another stay.

[Herschel]

I stopped using my Genoa after the first year or so. The standard jib with a roller furler seems about right for the variations in the wind I encounter and the various levels of comfort with angle of heel that my guests enjoy. It seems intuitive that not having a large roll of sail (furled part of Genoa) at the leading edge of the headsail is preferable for most sailing. I, also, enjoy a little better visibility without the larger headsail. Despite some years of serious racing/performance sailing in my younger years, I am now just so happy to be out on the boat and NOT doing what ever it is that seems so important to do ashore for so many hours/days, that I just get out there and go without worrying too much about how cleverly or efficiently I am getting there. I guess that is a bit of sailing heresy, but for this old jib sailor, it works!

[vkmaynard]

We are eventually going with a 120% Jib. Much less sail shape loss when furled. The North sail racing guy here also suggested the same jib.

Victor