BLUEMOMENT

I am still trying to decide if I should go for a self tacking jib for Full Circle.

Its because we live in a narrowish river, and tacking is a pain, especially as the prevailing winds are straight up and down the river.

Looking for opinions on the real penalty for light airs sailing (which we use the donk for at the moment anyway).

Costs are not disastrous, 250 quid for the traveller and blocks, and a saving on the sail cloth due to size.

Or should I go for genoa tracks on the coachroof and suffer the 3 or 4 feet of sheet winching on each tack?

_________________
eastcoastpilot.com - No, not that East Coast.
Anglian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Dalriada and Alba

Those Broads boats seem to be well sorted for short tacking, all the power is in the main, but they tend to be gaff rigged too .

If yours is an older (1970's) boat with a skinny main and a big overlapping jib/genoa, I think you are stuck.

Newer boats seem to have a bigger main and smaller jib so going for a self tacker may not be too detrimental.

Are you on hank on sails? You could have both, keep the existing tracks for what you do now. Fit the self tacking gear for when you are short tacking up a narrow fairway.

I don't know about winching in 4 foot of sheet, we tend to be able to get most of it in by brute force and then winch the last foot.

_________________
Chiron: Westerly Centaur.
Cheers Bob.

No, its a 2005 Jeanneau 35.....with a furler.

Brute force is the issue. Mrs FC gets grumbly when winching, and retains her final strangth to punch me, when I decise to keep tacking.

_________________
eastcoastpilot.com - No, not that East Coast.
Anglian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Dalriada and Alba

Luff up, a lot, help her by tailing the winch, ie pull in a good bit, then she only has a foot of sheet to winch.

If it needs more than a foot winched in, sail full and wait for the next tack to see if you can be a bit slicker with the tack and make a bit more head way. It's what I do, but I don't rush.

_________________
Chiron: Westerly Centaur.
Cheers Bob.

We have self tacking on the stay sail.

Fantastic for beating with a reefed main in strong winds.
Makes short tacking a breeze!

_________________
I will not stay young forever but, I can be immature for the rest of my day's!

A bit 'heath robinson' but how's about using the small pole (used in conjunction with the spinney pole when reaching) as a temporary jib-boom with the genny partially reefed (and a spare pull-down sheet) just for the time when you're in a narrow channel.
I know I would have had less bulging eyeballs and forehead veins if I 'd had similar for the decksweeper on the last boat.

_________________
Just because you're paranoid
doesn't mean they're not out to get you.