Over the years we’ve been through an evolution in our thinking about headsails. Some of this has been based on experience, and some of it on new materials. Looking at jibs in a long-term cruising context, the first question which has to be answered is wind range. We assume that for ocean passages, in light airs, up wind, we’ll power. This allows us to optimize the jib for medium wind strengths, rather than for lighter airs.

In the olden days we used to use double head rigs, with a high clewed jib with a staysail underneath. This rig has to be trimmed carefully to make it to work. It is too fussy to be a good combination on a short-handed cruising boat. When the staysail is not flying, the high clew of the Yankee jib is very inefficient.

With the advent of stronger sail cloths it became possible to lower the working jib clew, giving us a higher aspect ratio sail, with some end plate (sealing to the deck) possible. Our preference is to have the forward 25% of the foot of the jib sealed to the deck, and then have the clew raised so that the lead can be moved forward for reaching without hooking the leech into the main too much. On BEOWULF’s jibs we had a vertical batten sewn into the foot, parallel with the luff, so it would roll up. This batten helped with a bit of roach along the foot. Free sail area and very helpful in terms of sealing the foot.

Then comes the question of overlap. We typically minimize overlap for a number of reasons: First, it is hard to tack. Second, it is relatively inefficient sail area. Third, it is often possible to get much better sheeting angles upwind with a headsail which has a shorter foot.

What we’re describing is a sail which is at its best to windward, and which will do well reaching once the breeze starts to blow. But for deeper wind angles and lighter airs, there is a big gap. We fill that gap these days with a roller furling "code zero" type of headsail. This is a free flying sail which looks a lot like a big reaching jib, with a lot more overlap and sail shape than the working jib. The code zero can be used in very light airs uphill, and close reaching. It will do a great job broad reaching. And at the running angles, which we all look forward to in the trades, the code zero is flown to leeward while the working jib-with its short foot-works great on the pole to weather. This is a very effective and easy to handle combination.

That leaves the higher wind ranges, when the working jib is a bit too much. This is where the heavy staysail comes into play. With a full main, or single reefed main depending on balance, the staysail is a bit underpowered at first use, but then once the breeze comes up a couple of knots, the boat will be almost at optimum. In the meantime, that costly working jib is happily put away, waiting for a nicer day to show its stuff.