Hi There,
I have been considering trying to add a small jib sail to my Guider. The idea behind this would be to use as more of a storm jib in pretty heavy wind. Not so much for use when the main sail is up. I actually capsized the other day with a double reef in place while trying to tack upwind (20 kn sustained with gusts of 30 kn). Granted, the capsize was more user error than anything (I should’ve let out the main sheet when I was holding it in trying to make headway, when a very strong gust hit). However, the thought of a small jib, maybe half or 2/3 the area of the double reefed main area seems appealing. I envision adding a small bow sprit for this purpose. So, questions:
- is this just a non-starter/terrible idea and why?
- if it’s a reasonable idea in principle, any thoughts on how to execute having a sheeve or block for the jib halyard partway up the mast without it interfering with the raising/lowering of the mainsail yard?
Second question. After said capsize, I ended up rowing upwind for quite some time. As a result of the challenges of the bow catching the wind, I am considering adding a very small mizzen mast with sail aft of the rudder. This would be simply for use as a weather vane when rowing upwind to keep me pointed upwind. Presumably this could be pretty small, just enough to be greater than the bow free board area forward of the beam of the boat? Anyone done something like this? Any rules of thumb for the size necessary to weather vane in such a manner? Again, this would not be meant to be used as a sail, just a way to keep head to wind while rowing.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Of course, expirimentation is always an option, but I’m a “No” vote on both ideas. And even as I say that, I note that I’ve added a full-sized jib to my NE Dory, but first shifted the balanced lug sail to a gaff-rigged position, and also added shrouds when I’m sailing in the gaff-rigged configuration, so maybe that is an easier solution, all-in-all. I only have single reef points on the main, but I’ve sailed the boat is up to 20 kts with jib and reefed main (though much more “exciting” than I’d feel comfortable with if I wasn’t willing to risk a capsize). I’ve added a picture of my rig - it sails very well, and well balanced.
First, note John Harris’ reply in the Nov 2017 thread that popped up below your post as a related article, noting the problem with changing center of effort. He uses less words than I do.
- You’ll have shifted the center of effort forward and develop a lee helm. (Perhaps dangerous, as the whole point you’re trying to address is sailing in high winds.)
- Even if we assume that the unstayed mast partner and mast can handle the (mostly lateral) loads, you’ll likely develop a fore and aft see-saw tendency in the mast. With a main only, the mainsheet tends to hold the mast aft in the partner (unless, going down wind, then the mast shifts forward and stays forward). When you add a jib to the unstayed mast, especially when you draw the jib halyard tight enough to develop sufficient jib-luff tension, the mast will be pulled againt the forward stop of the partner - maybe until you really pull hard on the mainsheet, then the mast might want to move aft. And then in high winds as you sheet in and out, luff the main, etc. you could end up sawing the mast back and forth, and at the same time ending up with a continually variable mount of jib luff tension. And here I’m assuming that your intent is to develop a rig without a forestay (as I did), with the jib luff having a wire (or suitable luff cord) designed to take the load.
- Rig intereference issues: Especially when reefed (and even when not), I hope that you are using (or suggest you shouled be using) some sort of a parell to keep the upper yard against the mast. As you noted, you will likely have some interference problems there. Additional and more significant interference problems should be expected between the upper yard and the jib luff wire (or forestay). Perhaps you could run with a masthead block for the jib halyard, but a 3/4 rig (or less) luff length up to the actual head of the jib sail, and make that work, but even that arrangement would probably always require use of a reefed main. You’ll also likely have a problem with jib leech and/or sheets catching on the forward-projecting portion of the boom every time you come about. Even as I worked up my gaff-rigged configuration (with shrouds, a second halyard for the gaff, a jib halyard, etc.) I had to double and tipple check all rigging and sheeting attachment points to make sure everything would work without interference.
On to the idea of adding a little mizzen sail to keep you head to wind when rowing. I think that would be a whole lot of effort - both to add another mast and all related rigging, and the effort to deploy it, for limited gain. Adding that much windage, although perhaps keeping your bow to the wind, might be enough to bring you to a virtual standstill as you tried to make any headway against strong wind and waves. Perhaps try shifting as much weight as possible forward, or, if configuration allows, adding a set of oarlocks for a more-forward rowing position would be a better first attempt to solve the problem?
Good luck, whatever you decide.
That old post by John pretty much sums up the reasons to not add a jib. For heavy weather sailing, a better/easier approach is to add a third set of reef points to your main. That will give you less sail area without messing up the balance of the boat. If you look closely at this picture, you can see that I have three reef points on my GIS.
For rowing I agree with Jeff against the mizzen. My approach when rowing is to tie off the tiller to keep with the rudder partially extended when rowing. This works the same way as a skeg on a kayak keeping the boat straight. I believe that the Guider has a centerboard so you can also try lowering a little while rowing.
