Anyone have any experience with large furling headsail? Seeking to make the boat more versatile for club racing and short-hand cruising with minimal changeover effort (NY area typically L&V). My question is not about the furling hardware but rather sail size and flexibility. Can a 163 furlerable trirad be rolled down to 155 or 140 and still sail to the rating? (Would use “real sails” for more competitive venues or heavier conditions). Any thoughts on a small #1 furling sail and maybe a code 0 (for cruising - have J’s been rated for asymmetricals)?
hunter@i-stat.com

About 10 years ago I had an old 163 cut down to make a 155 jibtop for PHRF racing. High clew, sheeted to spinnaker blocks near stern. The sail worked well in its conditions. Four years ago I converted to cruising and added a Harken Unit 1 furler. The 155 jibtop has made an excellent cruising sail. However, racing with it against normal J/30s with plastic headfoils would be a waste of time. At the very least you would need to remove the drum and lower the upper unit and use normal go-to-weather headsails. We only have one real data point on competitiveness. In 1998, before we took the boat to Mexico, we raced in a J-Fest against 6 other J/30s. We were in a semi-cruising configuration, full water and fuel tanks, 6 group 24 batteries, mainsail with slugs, and roller furler with drum removed and upper unit lowered. Using regular headsails, we had moments that were competitive, but we finished DFL in every race.