Upwind sailing under genoa only

[DaveS]

I actually managed to leave the pontoon this weekend for the first time in two months

After carefully watching the developing weather it seemed that the dreaded depression wasn't going to be too much of a problem, so I set off on Saturday to Loch Spelve, via Cuan in NE4 gusting 5. Coming back this morning was a very broad reach, so I hoisted the genoa only. A rolly crossing of the Firth of Lorne was followed by a fast passage with the tide through the Sound of Luing (over 10 kn SOG). From Ardluing, Craobh was only 3 miles away, but directly upwind (which was still F4 gusting 5). Tide foul, but weak. What to do?

My original intention had been to hoist the main, but that (or rather the subsequent dropping and stowing) seemed like a lot of faff for such a short distance. I wasn't in a hurry and didn't want to motor, so I tried a wee experiment. Would it be possible to beat under genoa alone and make any kind of reasonable progress? The answer was much better than I expected. The recorded track on the plotter showed an achieved tacking angle of about 120 which I was quite pleased with. Of the other two boats going my way, one overtook me easily while, more surprisingly, I passed the other.

OTOH I did get some strange looks...

Has anyone else tried this and willing to compare notes?

[Nick]

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We often make our way upwind under genoa alone, often for the same reason - started on a run and ended up on a beat. Vegas are notoriously good for this, and I guess in the right wind we tack through not much more than 100 degrees - but until I get our new plotter fitted and learn how to use it I am unlikely to be able to confirm this as I am too lazy to work it out.

When I say in the right wind it works best under full genoa or with only a few rolls in. Even with our foam luff, once you have more than a few rolls in the sail shape isn't efficient enough, the sheeting angle is too wide and the tacking angle increases noticeably.

The other thing to remember of course is to crank up the backstay good and hard to increase forestay tension.

[claymore]

On Claymore - forget it!

[bigwow]

Being a lazy old git I quite often leave the main stowed and just let go the genny, but it is by far Bigwows most powerful sail.

[ash]

The Vega will also beat to windward under high clewed jib only, and has enough momentum to manage to tack but then the bow tends to fall off the wind because of the reduced speed and it takes a while to close to the wind again.

It would be an interesting exercise to detemine if it would be better to wear round instead. Ground would be lost, but boat speed would be maintained. Mind you - you would get even funnier looks.

Ash

[DaveS]

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We often make our way upwind under genoa alone, often for the same reason - started on a run and ended up on a beat. Vegas are notoriously good for this, and I guess in the right wind we tack through not much more than 100 degrees - but until I get our new plotter fitted and learn how to use it I am unlikely to be able to confirm this as I am too lazy to work it out.

When I say in the right wind it works best under full genoa or with only a few rolls in. Even with our foam luff, once you have more than a few rolls in the sail shape isn't efficient enough, the sheeting angle is too wide and the tacking angle increases noticeably.

The other thing to remember of course is to crank up the backstay good and hard to increase forestay tension.

Yes, I was tacking through about 100 degrees too, and guessed at about 10 degrees of leeway which the plotter seemed to confirm. I find the plotted track a useful feature while beating: the tacking angle suddenly deteriorating has often alerted me to something not being right.

I had the full genoa up which was fine in all but the strongest gusts. It's interesting that the boat I overtook had both sails well reefed. I suppose that genoa alone is not so different from genoa and well-spilling main...

I had the backstay tight, but with fractional rig the effect on forestay tension is limited...

[BarryT]

I spent a week in Holland last year sailing under genny only, often sailing faster and higher than other yachts with 2 sails out. I do think that the flat water helped though.

BarryT
Sigma 362

[Silkie]

First time I tried this was in my first season with Silkie but although she would go upwindish I couldn't manage the tacking and she would just continue to bear away once the bow came through the wind.

Since then I have kept genoa-only sailing for those troublesome downwind legs when the main never seems to be on the right side for more than a few minutes at a time until a few weeks ago when I spent an hour or so experimenting in a gusty 15-20+ knots.

With 2 rolls in the genoa we weren't pointing as high as we had with 2 slabs and 4 rolls but it was a lot more relaxing. The helm was neutral (just a touch of lee helm occasionally) and the tillerpilot could steer which is almost unprecedented going upwind in anything over F3. Tacking was no problem and we were not much more than half a knot slower through the water either although VMG would doubtless compare less favourably.

It's a lot easier to trim the genoa too!

All in all, a useful technique which I'll use again in the right circumstances.

[jim.r]

As BarryT says the key is the sea state.

[Arghiro]

Having a ketch & being a lazy sod - plus often sailing alone, I quite often use genoa & mizzen as both are very easy to set/stow quickly. Again, she doesn't point high, but for most situations, and especially short journeys, it works well enough.

[magdar]

Hadn't tried upwind before so i did today - worked resonably well although tacking was tricky. She came through the wind the best but then fell off to a reach. Once going again i could harden up. Very handy for singlehanding or being lazy(i can be VERY lazy)

Thanks for the idea