sailing with a jib

[Gilfy]

Hi all, i was wondering how a jib sail works when sailing? Tacking seems like it would be a problem.

perhaps i should have reworded this, how does one sail with a jib? I have only ever sailed with a main sheet, so an extra sail seems like it would be alot harder.

P.S. don't spill a pepsi on your keyboard, the delete key is important and it is quite annoying when it doesn't work properly.

[PAR]

The jib is an important sail. It improves the air flow over the mainsail when close hauled. After that, it's along for the ride, adding area to the rig, but not as effectivly as a single sail with the additional area.

A jib can be made "self tending" which is that it will tack, by itself, without needing help from the crew. Typically this is by using a boom and sheet tackle, like seen on a Weekender. When the boat comes up into the wind, the sail flops over on the new tack, just like a main boom does. You can sail to the new course or adjust the sheet(s) to a different course.

A self tending jib has the draw back of not being as effective a headsail as it can be. This is because the sail has to be relatively short on the foot to clear the mast in a tack. This short foot means the mainsail isn't getting as nice a flow as it could if the foot was longer. These longer footed jibs are known to have "overlap".

The overlapping jib can really provide some drive to the mainsail. On the water you'll see folks with jibs almost as long as the mainsail boom. These are special use jibs, only effective on certain points of sail. Fairly common jibs are of moderate overlap, 110% (10% overlap) through 130% (30% overlap) jibs are the most often seen. These sails can be used over a much wider range of sailing conditions, before you have to change to a different jib.

In the vast majority of small sailboats, you'll only use one jib and one mainsail. Some folks may carry two jibs, one smaller then the other, in case the wind picks up and they don't want to sail on their ear. In fact, this is usually the first reef put in on a boat sailing in building winds. They'll change down to the smaller jib to relieve some pressure on the rig (and crew).

[Gilfy]

Thanks a-lot for the info Paul, that made a-lot of sence. I had been wondering about that.

[RSdaCat]

Pineapple juce is woues much worse...

and it got my enter key, space bar, comma, and shift :oops:

white (rubbing) alcohol works wonders tho...

Thank you for posting this question!!!! I love the education that is available in these forums!!!!!! It is no nice to be able to ask questions and get solid answers w/o being embarrased or looked down on for your lack of knowledge. I hate being a greenie but boat "people" are so sweet they make it bearable. In this respect I am finding sailors to be so much nicer people than horse people.

[PAR]

Frank runs a great site here, which has attracted a fine bunch of honest and easy to get along with individuals, all having the same thing in common. You'll be hard pressed to find a kinder site in this particular genera, with the exception of a few drunken bums, such as myself, which seem to be tolerated for some reason.