Beating Upwind

[KeelsonGraham]

Hi all,

Another question to keep the experts thinking during these dull, dark pre season evenings!

I'm crossing Biscay this summer (downwind sailing). The return journey looks like its going to be 6 days of beating to windward. So, can anyone recommend a good furling jib for this task. My big fat billowy genoa is probably going to be almost useless.

[Ted Pounds]

Gentlemen do not sail upwind....  😜

[LogoFreak]

North sails 3Di Nordac 

[Stu Jackson]

From the 101 topics:
Jib Size Selection 101
https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7704.0.html

There's another 101: Ocean Sailing a C34

I raced on SF Bay for many years against skippers with 130s - max allowed.  I did quite well, especially upwind, with "only" a 110.  They did have a slight advantage downwind with their whisker poles.

Bigger is not always better.

[glennd3]

I can agree with Stu. I guess much depends on wind speed, the variable.

[Jim Hardesty]

I guess much depends on wind speed

Yes, and sea state.  With Lake Erie short steep waves need to bear off to power thru them.  Fun for a while.
Jim

[Noah]

Keelson—whatever size you get, 110-130; IMO, sail shape is the most important attribute of going upwind. A baggy., stretched- out sail will not perform as well.

[KeelsonGraham]

Thanks guys. I'm really surprised at the size of these recommended sails. I was sorta expecting a traditional small jib affair.

[KeelsonGraham]

From the 101 topics:
Jib Size Selection 101
https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7704.0.html

There's another 101: Ocean Sailing a C34

I raced on SF Bay for many years against skippers with 130s - max allowed.  I did quite well, especially upwind, with "only" a 110.  They did have a slight advantage downwind with their whisker poles.

Bigger is not always better.

Thank you Stu. I read that thread but I could't divine any definitive conclusions about size. A 110 seems to me (in my very limited experience) to be quite big for heavy air.

[KeelsonGraham]

North sails 3Di Nordac 

Thank you Logo. They look very good and there's a dealer close to us. I'll check them out.

[Kyle Ewing]

Keelson, what wind range and wave height are you planning for? 

[KeelsonGraham]

I'm guessing 15-20 kt and a 6 ft swell

[glennd3]

Biscay? Are you sailing the Bay of Biscay off France?

[Stu Jackson]

I'm guessing 15-20 kt and a 6 ft swell

KG, the swell is not what is important.  It is the wind wave height and the period, generally.  Usually the swell is of a much greater period than the wind waves, and the swell itself was much longer compared to the wind waves.  Off San Francisco, the reports would be "four feet at 12 seconds" or "6 feet at 10 seconds" or "12 feet at 12 seconds/"  The closer those two numbers became the more dangerous the conditions were, even for 6@6.  12@12 was horrifying.

WVHT and DPD in this example:
https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46026

[KeelsonGraham]

Biscay? Are you sailing the Bay of Biscay off France?

Indeed I am!