Sun E Sailor:
I had just finished rigging the new boat, and was checking everything when I snapped the pic.
I wouldn't normally open the jib when flying the spinnaker or visa versa. The spinnaker (spi) is for downwind (90 to 270) if you try to go higher into the wind it collapses (sometimes violently), thats usually how you blow them out. When flying the spinnaker I normally furl the mainsail in some then pull it tight (to help support the mast " a whole lot of pulling going on with a 130 sq ft spinnaker in 20-25 mph downwind") I have been up to 18mph plus on a good downwind run sailing out to Egmont Key ( it gets a little wavy going over the deep cruise ship channel though).
The jib is used mostly upwind to help me point closer to the wind, and gives me more speed on a reach.
Actually I only added the extra sails because the winds in Sarasota bay are too light most of the time ( < 5mph) especially in the summer.
Everything is on roto furlers so any of the sails only take a second or two to pull in or take out.
Hey that gas emergency motor has saved my bacon on many occations. Funny how I got it though. The first night out on my first TI (may 2010) was with my
wife near sunset (maiden trip with the boat only an hour old), well the wind
died while we were outside big pass in Sarasota bay (really bad currents), both my wife and I peddled for almost two hours to get back in. Needless to say I got a free pass on buying the emergency motor. A few weeks later me and my best friend went to go diving out at Cottrel Key (about 10 miles west of key west). The winds were coming from due east at 15 mph. Well my friend was driving (he's an expert sailer), he ran us aground into a shoal and broke the rudder. We found out quickly that you cannot sail at all without a rudder, so we motored back against the wind. I thanked my lucky stars that I had it.
I'm out in Sarasota bay most every weekend, I usually launch from City Island (right next to Sarasota Sailing squadron and Mote Marine ). I have sailed up to Egmont Key from there several times to go diving (about 22 miles each way), (it's easier to launch from Ft Desoto... I know).
We are probably going to spend the day at south Lido beach on Saturday unless we go scuba diving from the boat somewhere, nothing firm yet.
After this weekend we will likely be at the Key West house for the rest of the month though.
If you see this car it's me...