Does the Jib Get Hung-up on the Inner Stay?

Several people have asked, “Does the jib slide easily through the slot between the forestay and inner forestay?”   Our answer, “usually, but we expect things to be even smoother in the spring.”

When the true wind exceeds 10 knots we find that the jib slides through the slot on tacks without assistance.  There is enough force at higher wind speeds to pull the sail through the slot.  However, this is not always the case in low wind conditions.

On a few occasions, in light wind, we pulled hard on the jib sheet to force the jib through the slot.  In retrospect this was a mistake and at the end of the season we noticed some resultant wear on the staysail sun cover.

To minimize the risk of wear we are making two changes.  I am having a sailmaker add a section of dyneema cloth (or similar) at the wear point. This slick and durable fabric should minimize chafe and decrease friction.  I am also reducing the bulkiness of the jib sheet to clue attachment by utilizing splices and a soft shackle instead of two bowlines. This will make the attachment much sleeker. With a less bulky sheet attachment and reduced friction we hope the jib will slide effortlessly through the slot in lighter winds.

When the jib got hung up in light wind, walking forward and helping the sail through the slot was easy and safe.  On the few occasions when we had to make several quick tacks we planned ahead and used the staysail.  We were not racing so did not mind the reduced speed.

We are awaiting a Doyle UPS which is an asymmetrical with a straight luff.  This will likely become our go-to sail in light winds.  It will be hoisted with a continuous line furler from the bowsprit and I expect we will roll it at every tack.  Once we have this large sail, I suspect it will be a rare occurrence when we are using the jib when there is inadequate wind for it to slide through the slot on its own.

Some people advocate for a removable staysail set up which is another solution.  This would certainly be better for those planning to race around a short course.  But, if you are like me and want to minimize your time on the foredeck when the wind picks up, I think the permanent staysail furler is the better choice.  Plus, with the permanent set up you can easily reef the staysail and minimize the need for a storm jib.

In the spring, I should be more knowledgeable on if our changes and additional sail eliminate all concerns of the jib getting stuck sliding through the slot.  For those with different experiences or recommendations, please share your thoughts.