Solent Stay

[Joel H.]

Well, unfortunately a number of knowledgeable people on Sailnet are telling me, (and I'm summarizing here), that even a Solent Stay, without a running backstay, will not produce a proper sail shape ("luff sag") due to the reduced stay tension caused by the load sharing between the 2 foreword stays being balanced by only a single OEM backstay.
So, I'm going to sit on it a while, till I gather more opinions.
I'm hoping you and other people here might be able to comment on that.
Thx,
Joel H.

P.S. I do think my design would be slick, if it worked.

[benz]

You only need a bar-tight luff on the jib when pointing as high as possible. In that scenario, you'd likely be using the jib on the furler, rather than a bigger foresail on a Solent. If the wind was light enough that the bigger foresail was appropriate for pointing, then the luff wouldn't sag that much, due to less pressure on it. When off the wind a little, the advantages of the larger sails would be worth the trouble, I think.
You should really freak out the Sailnet people by suggesting the addition of a bowsprit, just for fun.

[Joel H.]

LOL...........
RE; Bowsprit,
That's the funny thing, I did mention a bowsprit, so I could be able to fly the gennaker I have, on a code furler. I was told that it was unnecessary and I should keep it simple and just fly a 150% on my head sail furler, which I already am. Then, when I talk about a Solent Stay to be able to fly my hank-on 110% and my hank-on 130%. I'm told it is unnecessary and to keep it simple, and just fit the 130% to my head sail furler and live with that.

[Joel H.]

I probably should describe my current sail plan. This is how things are set up since I bought the boat three years ago.
I have a heavy duty mainsail, the only headsail that is setup for the furler unit is a sweet tri-radial laminate 150% (so of course, my thinking is that, I would like to keep that in the arsenal).
Then in the "loft", so to speak, I have a like new Gennaker, a decent hank-on 110%, and a similarly decent hank-on 130%.
So, if the Solent Stay isn't really the best to use for close to the wind work with the 110%, I guess it would only be a help downwind with the 130% and the 150% wing to wing?

[benz]

If your biggest jib is already on the furler, then the solent probably isn't practical, unless you wanted to put a tiny jib on for nasty weather, Your best bet is probably to retro-fit the other two sails to go into the furler foil and bend them on when there's bigger wind in the forecast than you want to fly a 150% in. It's good to take sails in and out of furler foils from time to time: makes sure everythings running smooth and gives you a chance to lube up. If you want lots of sail options, perhaps you should look at a cutter or ketch for your next boat.

[Joel H.]

Thanks Benz.
Good advise. Mod-ing my sails for the furler sounds like the right approach to me now, also. I think I'll start with the 110.
Thanks for taking the time to help me through this. I'll shoot an update here now and then.
Cheers,
Joel H.