Sail configuration for yawl

[jmcleodfl]

Hi Yawl, I would like to hear from Pearson 35 owners about the sail configuration of the yawl rig. I have a P 35 yawl hull number 191 (INVICTUS). I currently usee a 150 Genoa, main and mizzen. I also have a spinnaker and mizzen stay-sail used for light air. As the wind picks up to 15 knots I feel like I need to reef the main. The boat moves along at hull speed with just the Genoa and mizzen up in stiff winds. My question is how many of yawl (lol) use a 150 or would a 100% jib balance better? I have in my sail inventory a hank on 100% and hank on 150. I use a Famet Reefurl. I was thinking about converting the 100% hank on to roller furling and selling the 150 hank on to offset costs.

[lod]

I am also hhjujghjgfh

[lod]

I also have yawl rigged 1969 P35 CAPER . When I purchased boat about twenty years ago I had to replace standing mizzen mast rigging and sail shortly after. When we took mizzen down I was surprised how much thingypit opened up an if I would not have new rigging and sail ready, I would not put it back. I successfully race boat extensively for years on the ocean or St Johns river, made multiple trips to Bahamas ( did the Abaco race week once, a lot of fun)and tried to use mizzen without any gain of speed or balance ,only getting more weather helm. Also mizzen need extra crew member to tend it when racing. I gave up on it and use mast as a pole for radar, VHF antena, and thingypit light.
So I sail the boat as a sloop and especially on the ocean I can balance she sails so you ca tighten a wheel and not touch it for hours.
On the other hand yawl rigged boat have more character than sloop. I have cool picture Caper with five sails up ( two head sails wig & wing, main, mizzen stay sail, and mizzen sail).
I have pretty heavy 135 head sail on furl it has a foam in the luff so it can be reefed and full batten main. Have one reef on main newer used it. Few times when the boat was really overpowered, we just took main down completely, because it was less dangerous for the crew. By reefing head sail we usually get the reasonable heel of the boat and speed.
It is some informations about different sailboat rigs I think it was in Sail anarchy, but all these favor sloop.
This is just my experience and opinion and I may be 100% wrong.
You can check some sailing Caper pictures on the second row in projects section centerboard rework 2012.

[jmcleodfl]

What is hhjujghjgfh? I am going to try and furl the Genoa down to 100% and see if the balance is better. Although it may not set right.

[jmcleodfl]

I often find my mizzen sail useless except for some place to lean against and flying the mizzen stay-sail(lets not forget the cool factor). My mizzen mast has quite a bend aft above the spreaders. I am going to try and straighten the mast and see if the sail will set better.
Thanks for the information.
John

[lod]

Sorry for hhjujghjgfh someone spilled stuff on keyboard and I tried to wipe it off. Yap 150 is good in light air. That foam in luff keeps sail in reasonable shape

[roverhi]

If you sail in light air, keep the 150. The boat is a sloop designed to need a large overlapping headsail for light air performance. Boats designed to the CCA rule often carried headsails to 160%-170% in light air areas like Long Island Sound as headsails weren't heavily penalized under the rule. No reason not to have the 100% converted to roller furling but will only be useful in winds approaching 20K and up. More or less a storm sail unless you're sailing in SF Bay or other windy locations. The 100% will be virtually useless in winds under 10k. Just not enough sail area to provide drive in light air. Of course, if you are the type that turns the engine on when boat speed drops below 4k, have at it. If your furling 150 does not have a foam luff, might think about having one added on. The foam makes for a much better setting sail when reefed. Furling a 150% down to 100% will result in a sail with a bag in the center especially if does not have a foam luff. About the max furling with any hope of decent shape would be in the 120%-130% range for a 150%. Of course in a pinch, furl it to what works. My all around sail is a 135% genoa with foam luff. Have carried it furled in 40 knot winds. Would like a little more overlap in winds below 10k but it will still drive the boat.

The mizzen sail was a way to cheat under the old CCA rule. It really wasn't really useful in reducing individual sail area, even in the good old cotton sail days, for boats under 40' or so. The mizzen sail area wasn't counted for much and allowed you to set a mizzen staysail for a lot of unpenalized sail area in light air. It also had the benefit of allowing a painless and quick reef in high winds by dropping the main. Called sailing under 'Jib and Jigger'. A great sail combination which keeps you off the foredeck changing down the headsail in sudden increases in wind strength or just sailing in heavier air.