High wind sailing: what to do with the Jib?

I was out in about 18 knots of wind and had to sheet or travel out on the main. I have always tried to maintain a reasonable sized "slot" between the leech of the jib and the luff of the main to get laminar flow through there. However, even when the main was full (not luffing), the jib would luff in any position except a fairly tightly sheeted one (this is upwind sailing I'm talking about). The problem, though, was that with the main traveled/sheeted out and the jib sheeted in, I could tell that jib was closing off the slot and actually pushing wind onto the leeward side of the main's luff - sometimes causing it to ripple inward (toward windward size). Nonetheless, if I sheeted out the jib, it would luff - so that wasn't an option (or maybe I should have lived with some jib luffing(?)). Not sure if this is just a fact of life or if i should be doing something different? I wondered if I might just do better furling the jib but didn't test this. I had already tried to depower the main by max downhaul so there wasn't really a way to sheet the main in more. I couldn't really trap because it was a small lake and not enough time between tacks. Anyway, was moving just fine but ... in the search for perfection I thought I'd throw it out there. Thanks.

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Adam
e-mail: ab at medjet.net
H17S, Hobie Bravo, A cat
Fleet 444

That's what happens when the jib is blown or old. It sounds like you need a new jib, the one you have is shot.

The solution is to travel out the jib - but a 17 Sport doesn't have jib travelers. It's a compromise born of it being a recreational boat, not a racing one.

Newer boats have the integrated traveler track on the front crossbar (the front and rear x-bars are the same extrusion) and some people have retrofitted the new H-16 jib cars/cleats to provide more adjustability.

Thanks Matt. I've never seen a boat with a jib traveler but, now that you mention it, it makes a lot of sense.....

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Adam
e-mail: ab at medjet.net
H17S, Hobie Bravo, A cat
Fleet 444

I wonder if you could rig up some type of barber hauler? Might be a simpler way to go...

Check this out, maybe it could apply to your 17 in some way. I'm not familiar with the 17s but who knows, maybe this will get you started with a way to do it on yours.

I recently did this upgrade to my '81 H16 using two swivel cam cleats, Trentec's car, and one cheek block on each corner casting. If you're reasonably handy these should be pretty self-explanatory but if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I took my time and laid it all out carefully BEFORE drilling. It's about a two beer job....

Here are some photos:

This is the instruction card off the Trentec packaging. Not too easy to read I know but it's got some good information.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 4676_n.jpg

An aft overview:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 6425_n.jpg

A fore overview:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 3962_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 6507_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 1711_n.jpg

Detail shots with dimensions:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 0310_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 5503_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 5281_n.jpg

Make sure you position the cheek block so that the outhaul line (attached to the Trentec car) moves parallel along the track. Then make sure the swivel cleat it returns through is positioned forward enough on the front cross bar for the outhaul line to miss the swivel cleat that the jib sheet runs through.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 1861_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 0458_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 5328_n.jpg

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

Here is what I did with the new integrated track on my H17Sport http://www.thebeachcats.com/index.php?module=pictures&g2_itemId=61752&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 I used the H16 integrated track cars with a 15 degree wedge added and I modified the sheet angle about 20 degrees also. Works well. Also when pointing in higher wind (15 knots+) furl the jib. You can point higher without it and you wont back wind the main.

Thanks for all of the ideas!

_________________
Adam
e-mail: ab at medjet.net
H17S, Hobie Bravo, A cat
Fleet 444

Sorry Off Topic: fastcat, you zipped past us 3 or 4 times on Priest Lake last weekend. We thought you might enjoy watching video of yourself! You looked like you were having a lot of fun! What a great weekend!

video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI5JGVCDrto

photo
http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu10 ... at6198.jpg

Lakesaliors, thanks for the video and picture. It is fun to see what it looks like from a different perspective. I did have a great time, sailed 11 out of 12 days (10 days at Priest and 2 days at Wallula Gap). Hope to see you next year.