Tacking a cutter? How to do it...?

[alecadi]

Having so far only sailed sloop rigged boats I'm wondering how to tack a cutter?

Is it more difficult in order to have the genoa going around the forestay and pass neatly between headstay and forestay?

What about sailing downwind : do you put up the staysail and the genoa with the main ? or only the genoa and mains'l?

Thanks
Alec
PS: still looking for my CSY 37...  

[lexushiggins]

HI Alec

'Someday' is our first cutter rig and we are still experimenting and learning.

Occasionaly we find in very light winds the sheets on the genoa get caught behind the inner stay, but with a bit of tugging and careful language they usually release themselves.

[alecadi]

Thanks
Alec

[Soggy Paws]

Alec,

Tacking a cutter is no big deal and only slightly more complicated than doing the same with a sloop.

[alecadi]

For a broad reach you will have to drop the staysail.

Dave

I suppose it is because the stays'l would mask the wind tyo the jib?

Thanks Dave for your input .
Very usefull.
Hope I'll get my CSY 37 soon !!
Alec

[Soggy Paws]

Alec,

Yes, on a broad reach the staysail will block wind from getting to the much larger jib, so it needs to come down.

[Harry L. Rezzemini]

Alec - When you find your boat, if you are fortunate to find one on which the club boom on the stays'l has not been removed, KEEP IT!