Sailing with a Jib only?

by Catherine
(Boston)

Hello! I have a 14' sailboat and I was wondering about sailing with just a jib. Any thoughts? I'd appreciate any response/advice!

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Hi Catherine,

Sailing with a jib can be quite interesting, but the main difference is that it is almost impossible to tack. This because the mainsail is the sail you use to point higher into the wind and without it, it is difficult to get higher up than a close reach.

Sailing with only a jib is useful when you are trying to land on a leeshore, where having the mainsail will leave you overpowered. It is also useful for slow calm sailing in a heavy breeze.

Hope that helps!

Best Regards,
Alex