tophatyachts.com

I am having a storm Jib manuafactured for my TH.
Does anyone have the right dimensions for the correct sail and where is it attached to the yacht.
I do have a headsail furler, and have been advised in very strong winds a storm Jib is a better option.

Andy

I have a storm jib but rarely use it because it is such pain getting the no.2 out of the furler first. I would suggest taking a look at the ATM gale sail , Rolly Tasker sails have them. You can buy them on line quite cheaply. They can be bent on without removing the furled sail. I wish I had gone this way rather than going with a storm jib. Others may have used one and can give first hand advice.

Cheers,
Mark

I reckon the last thing I want to be doing when it's blowing 30+ knots is fouling around on the foredeck hauling the jib out of the furler. For that reason my storm jib seems to be pretty useless to me, and a gale sail seems like a no-brainer. I've also looked into fitting a removeable inner fore-stay for the same reason. One of these days........

lockie

Lockie how right you are!

I've got a storm jib and trisail which I know have never been used and
which I have every intention of never using also.


Phillip.

G'Day Lochie,
The dimensions of the storm jib are;
Foot, 2438 (8ft)
Luff 5029 (16' 6")
Leech 3505mm (11' 6")
That's from the original TOp Hat plans

Lochie, I have used the storm sails.
I had a main made up out of orange, which you should also think about using in ONE of the panels of the sails. It makes it more visible on a wind swept sea. Sydney Hobart Yachts use sails made that way.

THe last time I used them in anger was when we used to race out of Port Hacking. THe race was abandoned because of a Gale warning so we put the storm sails on and went out. It only blew up to about 25kts but the boat performed beautifully. It shot along at a soild 5 to 6 knots, wasn't hard pressed at all and it was perfecty balanced. The biggest problem with an all orange sail and black numbers make it look like a V distress sheet. THe storm main only goes as high as the spreaders and is attached to the boom. It was taken from an article that was in Cruising Helmsman many years ago and the author said he had taken it out on Botany Bay in 50kts.

Have fun.

I have a deep second reef in the main that when in, puts the head of the main at about the cross trees. Have used it up to 35 knots. I would not like to have it up in anything above this wind strength.

Dear Mr Greg
I know you are trying to wind me up ? Have a bow peak at the plan date ! Here is the original Top Hat plan and only in imperial measurements , give me a break !!

Your mate Bear

Bear HELLO welcome to the 21st century.
THey are the specs for the Mk3 !!!
AND while you've been dreaming, we've gone metric !
Also that is for a wire luff not for a furler which may be adjusted.

Mark, putting a deep reef into a sail is not good for the material. The material in a storm main or trisail is much heavier to withstand the load. That is why most sails only have 2 reefs.

Your splitting hairs Bair. (MK3 measurements in Brackets)
Luff 15' 6" (16' 6")
Foot 7' 11" (8")
Leech 10' 3" (11" 6")
That is why Mk 1s look pretty sitting on moorings and Mk3s are the fastest.

Remember that boat we saw a couple of weeks ago at Croudace Bay with reef points 500mm apart right to the top of the mast.

Greg, ps I'm always right.

I am aware of sail strength, Greg, and that a trysail is made of heavier material but I do not have a second mainsail track and when caught in an unexpected blow I use a double reef. My sail is cut to accommodate this and the stresses involved, but I realize there are limits to this and that is why I said I would not use it in heavier conditions. I hope Bear's sanctimony is not rubbing off?