Jason - a great summary. Here is a trick to get a better rating, and prevent being overpowered. When racing single or double handed, I get a certificate for using the #3 jib only. The #1 is usually overpowered without the crew weight, so you might as well get the credit for just using the smaller sail. The PHRF-NB rating with just the #3 is 150 spin, 173 cruising versus 138 spin, 155 cruising with a #1.

Sounds like a blast. One question: why not hoist the kite from the cockpit?

J30 is a great boat to solo (with an auto pilot). I got mine to solo race and do several events on lake michigan each year.

Be careful because a solo event can age you quickly

Great post and nice finish!

John
Madcap
358

I hoist from the bag and douse sitting in the companion way. Grab the sheet, release the guy, release the haylard down the hatch. Clip sheets and haylard together and clean up the mess later.

With a 155 on a drum I get a rating of 147 in LMPHRF. The sail is a "reefable" North marathon. The luff tape is a little shorter on top and bottom so the shape is ok when reefed.

John
Madcap

Thanks all. Bill, I'm not sure GYA PHRF accomodates multiple ratings. I actually sailed to the course with the 3 and planned to use that for the headsail. However, when it looked like the breeze was too far forward for a carry, I swapped to the 1 as I did not want to reach with the 3.

Bob, I probably should have tried that - or at least have had everything hooked up prior to the start with the bag below.

John, that race wore me out. It didn't help that the start/finish was 14 miles from my marina!

Whoah... single handing without a PFD or jacklines? Balls of steel man.

I did not rig jacklines, but I did wear a pfd until the beat and took it off a couple hours before the finish. Too hot (yes, yes, I know...).

I was thinking the same thing.

I am surprised the race did not require them.

Wow! That's a big difference. Sure would help in my doublehanded series race tomorrow. Can you carry two different ratings?

Steve - you just need to declare which one when entering and you can't change on the fly at the regatta. If registering for a series, can't change during the series. There are actually a few boats on the PHRF-NB website that have multiple rating certificates. All you need to do is pay the normal rating fee to obtain another rating certificate.