I recently had a new set of sails made for Betty Lou. My cruising grounds vary from the Columbia River to the West Coast of Vancouver Island to the light airs of the Inside Passage. The boat came from the PO with a 155 genoa and a #4. When I had the new sails made I opted for a 135 to replace the 155, kept the #4 in the inventory, and added a cruising chute for light air days. Most days on the river I am sailing with rookie crews, and the larger headsails are a lot of work on the river, when we tack the boat every two or three minutes. The smaller working jib makes it easier to work with these inexperienced crew, and since we often have winds in the 15 - 20 knots in the afternoon it drives the boat just fine. On the downwind leg back to the slip we roll up the #4 and pop the chute.
For off-shore heading north up the Washington coast I set the #4 if the forecast is for higher winds, especially at night. But often summer passages along this coast have light winds, and the 135 or the chute come up out of the v-berth.
_________________ Jay and Muki Kerr Tartan 37 Betty Lou (formerly Rainbow) Hull # 118, fin keel St. Helens, OR Betty Lou's Blog
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