I've gotten a lot of local advice about sailing and one particular topic is weather a boat is head sail or main sail driven. Factional rig boats are thought to be more main sail driven; while older mast head rigs are head sail driven.
It's been my experience with my E27 that when I reef the main, my upwind performance is significantly diminished. And, there was the time that I was unexpectantly caught in 35+ winds. I was already double reefed and was getting knocked down with every tack. I dropped the main completly, twisted off the head sail (95% cars moved back) and found that I could make very little headway upwind. I ended up dropping the head sail and motoring home. On another occasion, 25+ winds, my passengers were not up to leaning so I sailed on the main alone. This worked well as I saw speeds of 4-5 knots.
So with all boats being different, what have other E27 owners discovered? In a high wind situation, do you sail on the main or the head sail knowing that use of both would be the better (and you have a hank on jib).
Grant Kiba
'73 E27, #406
Antioch, CA
It's been my experience with my E27 that when I reef the main, my upwind performance is significantly diminished. And, there was the time that I was unexpectantly caught in 35+ winds. I was already double reefed and was getting knocked down with every tack. I dropped the main completly, twisted off the head sail (95% cars moved back) and found that I could make very little headway upwind. I ended up dropping the head sail and motoring home. On another occasion, 25+ winds, my passengers were not up to leaning so I sailed on the main alone. This worked well as I saw speeds of 4-5 knots.
So with all boats being different, what have other E27 owners discovered? In a high wind situation, do you sail on the main or the head sail knowing that use of both would be the better (and you have a hank on jib).
Grant Kiba
'73 E27, #406
Antioch, CA