300 / 301 - Small Jib

Small Jib

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 300 / 301
Forum Description: 300 & 301 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15370
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 23:37
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Topic: Small Jib

Posted By: Mergus
Subject: Small Jib
Date Posted: 25 September 2025 at 12:22

Hi,

I have in my 301 currently a Genoa 1 and ST-Jib as the fore sails (99% of time using the ST-Jib though). However, especially when going strong headwind (>10ms) the ST-Jib feels quite overpowered (with the main having 2 reefs). I have tried furling some of it in, but it really does not sit nicely. Has anyone made a smaller jib than the standard ST-Jib? And possibly happen to have good measures?

Replies:

Posted By: Martin&Rene
Date Posted: 27 September 2025 at 15:22

The normal approach is to go to a third reef in the main. It will be easier to pull in a reef rather than change the jib once the wind is over 15kts.

Look on the 345/348 forum for a recent thread on "sailing in increasing wind speeds" and you will see my summary.

If you put in reefing, any date, 300/301 forum into the advanced search function you will find many discussions.

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Martin&Rene Hanse 341 Dipper Wheel steering, 3 cabin layout, normally based in Scotland

Posted By: Mergus
Date Posted: 30 September 2025 at 16:10

Hi,

Thanks, it is of course clear that in strong winds it is much easier to take a third reef once underway. I was more thinking situations where the heavy weather is well known in advance at the port where changing the foresail is rather easy

Posted By: sailingfree
Date Posted: 07 October 2025 at 17:51

Hi, I also find the full small jib a bit too much in anything over 25kts (~13m/s) but I do put a few rolls in it to ease things a bit, especially single handed. I don't normally put a reef in the main until its getting up to 20kts though, and ony a second reef over 25. I've never put a 3rd reef in though. I do find that flattening the main using outhaul, lots of mast bend and lots of halyard tension is usually enough to make the boat fairly controllable.

How old is your ST jib? Getting any sail flat will de-power it nicely, and old sails just get baggy. I was pleasantly surprised when I got new sails a few years back.

When we use to race long distances, we had to carry a storm jib, one that slipped over the furled jib, but the only time we tried that in anger it really didn't set too well, two of us got completely soaked on the foredeck putting it up, and in the end we ended up taking it down and sailing with just the main and two reefs in 30kts+ on a fairly broad reach for nearly 6 hours. The 301 goes really well with just the main.

Posted By: Mergus
Date Posted: 09 October 2025 at 20:43

It is only 5yrs old, but naturally a dacron so could be stretched already. Maybe then a choice is between a smaller jib (laminate) or a new st-jib (laminate) that holds the shape

As it seems anyone do not have good experiences of small jibs