The Sail Inventory

At last count, we have thirteen sails on board.  Our expert says this is the minimum to be competitive.  Basically, we have sails for every wind angle and wind strength, giving us lots of options to keep the boat moving efficiently towards Hawaii.  Here is the inventory:

     Mainsail with three reefs
     #1 Genoa (new)(our biggest headsail for beating to weather)
     #3 Jib (a smaller version for when the wind is blowing harder)
     #4 Heavy weather jib (for when it's really blowing!)
     Blast reacher (this is used for reaching in between the angle of the jibs and the code zero)
     Genoa staysail (can be used anytime we are cracked off and reaching)
     0A (Code zero) asymmetrical spinnaker (for close reaching)
     2S symmetrical spinnaker (new)
     2S symmetrical spinnaker (almost new)(backup in case we have an accident!)
     4S symmetrical spinnaker (new)(smaller and heavier cloth for heavier wind conditions)
     Spinnaker staysail (very lightweight staysail flown with the spinnaker when broad reaching)
     Storm jib
     Storm trysail

The last two are the OMG sails which we hope to never have to use.  About the only time they might be used is if a hurricane tried to sneek up on us from Mexico. 

We expect that all the rest of the sails will see lots of use as we encounter various wind conditions across the course.  The genoas and jibs will see lots of use early in the race as we work offshore from California.  The first couple hundred miles will be beating or close reaching upwind until we reach the tradewinds.  At that point the wind usually shifts dramatically and we are able to beam reach or broad reach with one of the spinnakers up.  Later in the race (roughly half way) we will sailing mostly downwind under spinnakers as the wind shifts to the west. 

-Jeff