260 mod - Effective jib reaching

Because the 260 can only fly an non-overlapping headsail, it allows the jib sheeting angle to be very tight. This allows for great windward sailing. In a good breeze the best VMG windward angle is often inside 40 degrees true wind.

The downside is when you are off the wind. In decent breeze while jib reaching, the narrow sheeting angle holds the clew too close the center-line, hooking the sail back to windward. It also narrows the slot between the jib and main, decreasing the effectiveness of the mainsail. This is very slow and needs to be addressed for optimal forereaching.

There are two options. The first is to rig a out-haulers; a line that pulls the active sheet outward to make a better (wider) angle. On the BlueJ we have looked at this but cannot find a great place to mount the needed hardware.

The 2nd option is a dedicated reaching sheet, sheeted to an outboard point. This is the approach we have taken on BlueJ  We mount a dedicated block onto a shackle on the chainplate. We have found the 260 chainplates a great place to mount both reaching sheets as well as twings. The sheet then runs inside the lifelines and attaches to the clew of the jib.

When doing a mid-distance race, we bring the single reaching sheet and its quick-release block up on deck and leave it forward. On a leg where we need it, we snap the sheet to the clew with its shackle, and attach the block to the chainplate. The sheets then runs back near the winch. When we are ready, we lock the active close-hauled sheet in the sheet-lock, and load the reaching sheet onto the winch. Take up the load, and then release the regular sheet. The new sheet gives a MUCH better angle to the wind when reaching, and is good for at least .25 knot.

As you can see, the jib leech is open and matches the angle of the trimmed main. FAST!

Compare that picture to the below, This is before the reaching sheet is on. The crew is setting it up as we left it on port and forgot to bring it over. The sail is eased so the luff is in trim, but the sail is hooked to windward by the position of the sheet lead, and the upper half of the sail is too twisted. Have to fix that fast!.

PROTIP: If the clew position created by the windward sheet is too open for the current breeze, you can use both the windward sheet AND the regular sheet in concert to position the clew between them. It takes a little but of finesse because only one sheet can be on a winch, but the effect is worth the effort!

Here is a picture of BlueJ's chainplates. You can see how we have set them up for maximum flexibility. The aft shroud pin has been replaced by a large D-ring; this is where we snap on the block for the reaching sheet, A small hole in the chainplate holds a loop of dyneema that serves as the mounting point for the twing block.

All this work is necessary because the First 260 has wooden toerails. Stylish, but not super functional. Boats with slotted aluminum toerails provide many places to attach blocks and are much nicer in this regard.

Of course this discussion is centered on JIB reaching; reaching when the wind speed is too great and/or the wind angle is too tight for spinnaker reaching. There are two posts on spinnaker reaching on the 260 on the blog,

This one on reaching asyms: HERE

And this one on spinnaker selection based on wind: HERE