How much does a stay sail really add?

[csandys]

That picture shows the yankee up, not the 135.

I wish I had it up the other day. We were casually sailing around Lake Union, but the fireworks barge takes up the center, leaving two slots to sail. Since it self tacks, it would have been nice to have when beating into the wind and not dealing with the genny on each tack.

I'm thinking of making it optional, but I need to work out boom storage and a way to keep the stay happy when not attached.

[Ian McColgin]

On most boats the staysail will give a serious boost unless it's light air and a 200% or more genny. So, why not test your speed with your actual sails? So much better than hypothetical answers.

G'luck

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
My friend Hasse, the great sailmaker, says, "If you set a forestays'l, you'll gain half a knot. And if you strike it, you'll ... gain half a knot." So usually the sail isn't worth it in combination with a well-set Genoa, but it is certainly great to reef down to.
As for easy handling, a Genoa should be handy with the forestay detached. If than's not enough, the best boomed stays hinge on a pedestal a calculated distance aft of the stay. And the safest ones have two sheets.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss